Popsicles are G+reat!

It's hot outside. And humid. Even my pooches are miserable during our short, sauna- esque walks. Unrelenting heat of this type calls for evasive action- not just cocktails, but popsicles. And since I'm probably the only person who never made popsicles from scratch, a mold was purchased. Shown above is my first attempt, chopped nectarine and orange juice pops. They are now gone.

The newfangled Zoku is shiny, but I decided to start with this simple mold instead (which I purchased at Target for $3.99, but it isn't on their website).

The second batch of pops (Latin strawberry puree from a local Korean grocer and a bit of Greek yogurt for smoothness) are also amazing. Only a couple of more to consume until the next round- possibly mango and Thai chilies. Or Watermelon with mint. Or blackberries and raspberries with basil. Perhaps adult versions should be next, with a bit of vodka. Or gin.

And, yes, I know how to spell "great". For those who have been hiding under a rock, the G+ refers to Google+, touted as "The Facebook Killer" as well as a nearly all- male social network, the invite only (for now) media vortex feels like an interesting mix between Facebook and Twitter, which I do like. So there, a female user with a mostly female circle (group of people you interact with) who is still on both Facebook and Twitter.

Since Google+ isn't allowing many business pages right now as the format is still in Beta- or if you've ever wondered how the mind behind Retro Trend Vintage works- you can find my personal page here. I won't bite. While we're getting acquainted, here's my personal Twitter account.

Enough rambling for now- enjoy your weekend!

It's CONTEST Time! (And... The Friday News Round- Up)

Another week is coming to an end and there's lots to discuss.

Let's begin with THE CONTEST!

 It's been a week of milestones.

Over 1,300 Facebook fans, over 2,000 Twitter followers and over 500 retrotrend shop hearts.

My way of saying "Thank you!" is to give away this INCREDIBLE set of four Mid- Century dipped (insert Gigi reference here) quicksilver High Ball glasses.  

How does the contest work?

Complete any of the following steps (Complete more than one step and be entered more than once!):

1- Follow this blog and leave a comment on this post.

2- Become a fan on Facebook and comment with the details below.

3- Tweet about this contest and comment with the details below.

4- Link this blog post to your Facebook (personal or fan) page and comment with the details below. 

One winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011. The winner will be announced here.

Back to our (somewhat) regularly scheduled program. I was the recipient of two lovely blog mentions yesterday, from Amy'sOldSchool and GarageSaleGirly, featuring this bag and these ties, respectively. Thanks, guys!

If you're a regular reader, you'll recall this post from August, all about my vintage glasses frames buying adventure. Well, I went back a few days ago and purchased more frames, which will be listing in the next few weeks.

And SOLDES is still going strong, for a few more days.

35% off of nearly every retrotrend item!

25% off nearly every RetroHommeVintage item!

15% off of every ObjectRetro item with coupon code "15OFFYAY".

I'll enjoy the snow, you enjoy the savings.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Shopping Slump + Coupon Code = Weekly Round-Up

I am a good half- Hebe. And I shop for a living. So why is seasonal shopping so hard this year? Barely made it through Hanukkah with the "Let's just exchange one big gift this year" shtick (the iPhone 4 rocks, btw!), but Christmas is looming. Everyone seems to be scaling back, which is fine by me. There is little I need or want.

So while my decorations are up and home- made lemoncello is ready to distribute to friends, I still have a lot of present buying to do. From online stores that will deliver quickly. Of course, lots of purchases are arriving via Etsy, in clever packaging and with thoughtful notes. This makes me strive to avoid big- box stores as much as possible - I'd rather support handmade and vintage sellers.

Are you suffering from a holiday shopping slump too?

Maybe this will help:

This weekend only (starting, um, now) use coupon code "15offyay" in any of my three stores (retrotrend, RetroHommeVintage and ObjectRetro) for an additional 15% off.

Many items are already 20%- 25% off for the holiday season, so this is an added "Thank you!" bonus for my loyal blog followers (that's you, guys!), Facebook fans and Twitter followers.

I've used the Etsy on Sale API a few times to create sales and love the results. So it was thrilling to receive an e-mail from one of their founders, letting me know I'd been featured on their blog. That creamy canvas speedy bag? Right here.  Thanks for the feature!

Well, it's 5:08 pm here, which means my work day is over and cocktail hour has started without me. Have a wonderful weekend.

P.S.- If the sugar cookies turn out okay this weekend- there will be photos galore to share!

Hats off to...



Coming soon...



It's been busy, busy, busy lately. I've been promoted to the team leader in charge of promotions for the Vintage Market Team. While I've been overseeing the Facebook page for a while now and had worked with the previous promo leader on several sales and promos before, this is a big change. Funretro had been in charge of team promos and did quite a bit of work on the team blog. The search is on for a fellow team member to assist with team treasury challenges and the blog - until then, I am wearing lots of hats. Thanks to Natalie for all of her hard work.

Have a great week!



Purses as works of art?

Yup, it is Friday the 13th! I did venture to the post office today for a very important reason. Mostly I spent the day at home, photographing lots of new vintage goodies that will be listing soon.

Looking around every single room in my house, I find vintage and retro items that inspire me. I've shown you some artwork and furniture already. Today, let's focus on display pieces that really change the feel of a room.

This antique trunk doubles as blanket storage and as a coffee table in the guest room. Lucky guests are allowed to play Simon.

Turn of the century "A Lunatic" metal trunk holds an original Simon game, copyright my birth year.

I spend quite a bit of time in my office. And I have a severe vintage bag addiction. My office needed something on the walls and screamed for pegboard displays. 1960s framed student fashion drawings hang off to the left, bags ranging from a 1940s wool clutch with mink front to a 1960s Morris Moskowitz crocheted straw bag with gold chain strap.

The black bag display.

The colored bag wall- featuring bakelite handles, a kelly green satin and lucite evening bag, a floral tapestry bag with bamboo handle... And so much more.

The colored bag display.

And the reason for today's trip to the post office? My Facebook page's contest winner was Lisa of Weezi fame. She picked a crazy pink silk and velvet floral petal hat with pearl detailing, circa early 1960s.

Here I am, modelling the winning hat.

Here is the hat on my display head.

Here's to a wonderful weekend, with or without crazy retro hats!

Seven months later- recluse blogger reappears!

Hello everyone!
Yes, I am a complete and total dead-beat blogger. This is nothing new. I think about blogging, read cheeky blogs that make me smirk or laugh or cringe and wonder why that can't be me, sharing my life and inner-most thoughts with my three (3!) followers.
No, my blog info isn't listed anywhere on any of my other social media links- perhaps that is a part of the problem. 1400+ Twitter followers and 820+ Facebook fans tolerate my daily randomness, perhaps it is time to really try blogging.
It could be me. I'm creative, super snarky and have an undeniable Summer 2010 addiction to Fudgsicles.
I will not promise you the moon or the stars or a regular blog post, but, in making the effort to be a better blogger (stop rolling your eyes already!), here is a recent interview by Etsy's Vintage Market Team, of which I am a member.
Also, I've changed my blog avatar to my well loved inflatable moose head mascot. Perhaps a new layout to follow. Obviously, I can't commit to too much all at once. Perhaps by Halloween. Or Hannukah.
Read even more about me here:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/vintage-market-team-on-etsy/meet-the-members-of-vintage-market-team-ryan-of-retro-trend-vintage/133922546646663
And here is the link to the VMTEAM Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/VintageMarketTeam

Let me know your thoughts and thanks for tolerating my active lack of blogging.