Cookie exchange invitations on the cheap

I won't lie, this will not be my best and brightest year as far as holiday soirees go. While there may be supermoms out there who can plan a fab fete while balancing a 7 month old on one hip, I'm simply not that talented. So we'll be pairing back this year and just going with a cookie exchange, not that it has to be just any cookie exchange.

If there's one thing I love it's making fun paper crafts for my parties, and cookie exchanges are no different. What is different is the fact that I've decided to share this year's theme in my brand new Etsy shop! I know, I know, shameless plug. But as readers of my blog know, the other thing I love is a bargain. so you can be sure that I have my fellow cheapskates in mind. Check it out in my brand new printables store, Simple Soirees!

Vintage Pyrex -Domestinista's dream-come-true!

Now, you all know how much I love milk glass. It's understated and versatile and definitely has a place in pretty much any room in the house. However, it has definitely got some competition in the colorful world of vintage Pyrex!

Hello cute Autumnal vignette (in progress)! I found this lovely Cinderella bowl in the
butterfly Gold pattern at my favorite Antique shop in St. Jacobs over the long weekend. It is in perfect condition. No scrapes or cracks. Positively mint.  Best of all, it's fits my requirements for any collectible piece -it can't just look pretty, it has to be useful as well.

This is my first piece of vintage Pyrex, but definitely not my last. I think something in the Snowflake pattern will be just perfect for Christmas. Looks like I might be making my way back to St. J for some late fall antiquing.

BTW - if anyone has any thoughts on what I should add to that gap between the pitcher and Pyrex bowl, I'm definitely open to suggestions.

Where to find milk glass in Ontario

While I definitely have a favorite shop when it comes to finding milk glass in Ontario, I'm always on the look out for new places to expand my hunt. So I thought I'd start a post here to be updated whenever I make new milk glass discoveries.

A note about party or wedding milk glass

Before I get into the more serious haunts, for those who are searching for milk glass in Ontario as part of  wedding, shower or other party decor your best bet for the vases and planters that seem to be the most sought after party or wedding milk glass pieces is definitely a consignment store like Value Village, Goodwill or the Salvation Army, or on Kijiji. The great think about consignment store milk glass is that it's dirt cheap. You can find a stars and bars patterned vase, like the one seen below at $.99 for a short up to $2.99 for a tall.

The not to great thing about sourcing the consignment shops for your milk glass in Ontario is a) the vases are often quite dirty inside(not that you won't be washing them anyway) and b) it can turn into a scavenger hunt, since you rarely find more than 3 or 4 vases at a shop at one time.

As for Kijiji, this is probably your best bet for wedding decor milk glass, since you can always find a few people selling lots of milk glass vases, most likely after gathering them via consignment store for their own wedding/party. You can get the vases you need, usually in one easy purchase, and without the added expense of USA to Canada shipping that goes with purchases made on Etsy or eBay.

Collectible and decor Milk glass

Market Road Antiques

 Patriot Antiques

Orono Antique Market

I love all three of these antique stores. they all have a great selection of glass and make for a fun weekend of antiquing.

Let them eat ruffle cake!

Ruffle cakes -they're vintage cute, they photograph beautifully and they are absolutely everywhere. Thankfully, they're also very easy to make. I created this strawberries and cream ruffle cake for Lady J's baby dedication reception a few months ago using this ruffle cake tutorial from Duncan Hines.

Domestinista relaunch

Domestinista is on its way back, thanks to a good deal of mat leave and a ferociously renewed interest in all things domestic. It's amazing how inspiring a baby can be.
Stay tuned!

I have a very good excuse for being MIA

My garden has suffered, my blogging has stopped entirely; however, I have been doing a little baking:

 

I'm going to do my best to get back to blogging, but this little bun in my oven has proven to be a mighty tough distraction!

Sumptuous Summertime Suppers

It’s that time of year again –the weather is warming up, the garden is showing signs of life and two season’s worth of holidays and tummy warming comfort noms have more than taken their toll. Of course that means I must make my annual “cooking and eating healthier” vow. Oh so optimistic at this time of year; so filled with determination. Sadly, this determined optimism usually ends in utter failure. Darn my foodiness and genetic predisposition to gain weight. It’s a cruel joke really.

But this year I’m going to do it (Ok I’ve said this before, but this time I mean it…this time, not like the other dozen times when I’ve meant it. No really.)

See the problem for me isn’t junk food. It isn’t burgers or chips or Venti mocha double cream caramel fudge lattes. In fact it’s not even that I fill my pantry with prepackaged meals or other junk. The problem (aside from the fact that my job requires me to sit on my butt all day, paired with the fact that dinner generally doesn’t get served till about 7:30pm) is that I love to cook and bake, and that the recipes I tend to favor are more about taste and less about health (darn you condensed soups and your dinnertime versatility. 

So I’m going to make a real change this year. I’m going to source and develop some tasty yet healthy alternatives to my favorite dishes and desserts –not just to get healthier, but to add some new flavors and textures to my family’s dinnertime fare. Here’s hoping I can actually get it done this time.