You're my Miss Washington, D.C.

I'm a D.C. gal, born and bred. I've always lived in or around the nation's capital and have a soft spot for many things D.C.- related.

Making fun of former mayor Berry? Oh, yes. "Bitch set me up!" See how fun that was? 

Loving the early, glory days of D.C. United? Coolest kits ever!

Shows at Fort Reno, the old Black Cat (Black Cat) and the oddly sticky, cave- like 9:30 Club? 

Living on the South East side of Capitol Hill and watching people cringe when you said "South East", not "Capitol Hill"? Yes, snarky me really enjoyed that.

My fabulous Sadie dog was found on the side of the road in DC when I was driving to a nearby thrift store. She was starving, frightened of older men with canes or umbrellas and older women in long skirts (who isn't?). She was also fight trained and showed signs of horrible abuse.

Look at my monkey now!

This isn't a post about my dog- but about the city I love.

So when a former D.C. Area resident and friend of mine linked this...

...I was sold. It is from The Heads of State  travel poster series. Multi- color screen print serigraphs, well priced, hand numbered and on very high quality paper. I've purchased an appropriate frame (though will need to buy and cut the properly sized mat) and will share the finished result with you someday soon.

I like many of the other available city designs. The bold graphics have a vintage feel and the iconic landmarks are depicted beautifully. These would make wonderful gifts.

Since I attended grade school in the greater D.C. Area and Back to School is in full swing, here is today's Treasury Tuesday.

Head of the Class by retrotrend

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Items we love! Contest

Two quick updates:

I am holding a contest on my Facebook fan page!

If you comment on the FB fan page post (from Monday, August 9th), telling me which item (or items) you'd purchase if you had $50.00 to spend at RetroTrend and/ or RetroHommeVintage, you'll be entered into a drawing to win a one- time use $50.00 credit. The contest ends on Friday, August 13th at 12 noon EST. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon.

Happy Treasury Tuesday! Maybe I'm not so hard to shop for is a list of items I wouldn't mind receiving. It includes some stellar vintage, upcycled and new items, from 16 fantastic Etsy sellers.

Have a great afternoon!

Cookies!

I can cook. Rather well. Without recipes. A little of this, a little of that, some spices, some butter, some wine. Veg and sauces, breakfast and soups, one hell of a garlic brisket. Mashed potatoes? Lumpy and garlicy with skins left on and dairy quantites you only dream about. My palate veers towards unami. And spice. And stinky cheeses.

Cookbooks are read for enjoyment or to check a cooking time.

Baking is a different story. There is little room for creativity in the kitchen when baking. Which is why I normally don't bake. And since it has been hotter than the hinges in the DC Metro area (really not liking the new DMV name being used), I have shelved my desire for cookies until just the other night.

"Why not buy cookies?" Because I have found and slightly modified an easy recipe that makes the best cookies. Ever. Friends and family agree. And have suggested the recipe get entered in a cookie baking contest.

You'll need:

1/4 lb butter

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

3/4 tsp vanilla

1- 1/8 cups of flour

3/4 tsp of amazing salt (I'm partial to Frech gray sea salt but others do work well)

1/2 tsp of baking soda

6 oz (approx. 1 cup) bittersweet chocolate chips or chunks or bars- if you chop by hand, you get a wonderful texture

The grunt work:

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease cookie sheets. (Or cheat and use silicone mats on air-bake sheets. This is highly recommended.) Using the whisk attachment on a stand (or hand) mixer, cream the butter and slowly add the two sugars, blend until light and smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla, mix well. Mix remaining dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda) together and add to batter. Add chocolate. Spoon teaspoonfuls onto the baking sheets at least 1 inch apart. Bake 9 minutes.

You are so close to chocolatey, gooey, crsipy, chewy, salty amazingness! Let them cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a cooling rack or wax paper spread out on stone counters.

Place on a 1920s creamware oval platter with lots of crazing and chipped edges.

Select a few choice victims. Cold milk optional.

I'll leave you alone for a few minutes.

Because it is Treasury Tuesday and I actually baked, today's curation showcases kitsch in the kitchen. Not a cookie but still worth a peek.

Putting the Kitsch in Kitchen by retrotrend