Kitschy Kool: Volume 7: Telephone Tables/Benches

Recently, I have been really interested in finding a vintage telephone bench/telephone table and taking on a little refurbishing project all my own. After scouring the net for the perfect entryway bench piece (and falling short), I decided that a custom piece, like a revamped vintage telephone table, would be an unexpected addition to our entryway area.

I gained some inspiration from a few old entries I found on design blogs, like these "before" and "after" features from Design Sponge.

virginia's telephone bench

before:

after:

Amazing what some sanding and a little spray paint can do!

Next is breanne and dan's telephone bench

before:

after:

Wow, right?

And last but not least, there is this cute little number I found on Quest Twenty Eight:

before:

after:

What a transformation!

So now I am on the hunt for the perfect tattered table to take out my creativity on. I found one post on craigslist so far, and it's affordable but I'm not sure it is the one ...

It's nice and has tons of potential, but ideally I'd like it to have a small drawer, and maybe less ornate detail on top. What do you think?

Mad props to any fellow blogger that can help me find a listing for the perfect table! Chicago-land area or St. Louis area (maybe even Milwaukee for the right find) only please, since I need to be able to pick drive it up in our new SUV!

Kitschy Kool: Volume 6: Milwaukee...not just cold, but kool!

This past Saturday as part of my birthday present, Dave took me to Milwaukee. True, it's no Vegas as we originally had hoped, but the real point was just to get away for a night, so we did and it was great.

First, we drove up and stopped at Kopp's Frozen Custard for some of their legendary jumbo burgers and frozen custard (yes, I eat frozen custard and really all ice cream no matter how cold it is outside!)

After that, we made our way to the Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design . This place was a little gem! At least to me since I'm an advertising dork.

There were 3 exhibits there, one featuring the brand, Fossil's "Vintageology":

Another exhibit showed the course of Coca-Cola advertising over the years (sorry no photos) and the last exhibit showed the work of Cramer-Krasselt ad agency. Funny that I went to a museum to see CK when I walk buy their building everyday at work, but it was still a nice display:

And then Dave posed with Mr. Clean, and gave him a run for his money:

Then we checked into one of the most kitschy kool hotels I have ever seen: The Iron Horse Hotel . We booked it through my favorite hotel website, Tablet Hotels, where you can find unique, boutique hotels around the world... even in Milwaukee ;-)

When we first checked into the Iron Horse Hotel, we found a brick and timber loft that I can best describe as a mix of biker-chic/shabby-chic, think Harley Davidson meets Anthropologie catalog.

Our Room:

Our bathroom, complete with "rain" shower and see-thru frosted shower.

Let's just say that you might not want to share a room with just anyone with this semi-private shower/bedroom view ;-)

The bed was also great:

And the accent wall was papered with vintage images of Milwaukee women, the same women that adorned the room keys...so cool:

And the hallways had funky zebra carpet:

And they had a library where they served brunch:

And the lobby was just my style, full on trinkets!:

After exploring the awesome hotel, Dave's brother and our sister-in-law met us for drinks at Water Buffalo and then dinner at Swig, both in the 3rd Ward district downtown, just a 1/2 mile from the hotel.

Scott & Beth

Me & Dave

After a lot of good food, even more good drinks, and a good night's sleep, we checked out and made one last stop at Mars Cheese Castle.

We couldn't leave The Dairyland without picking up some delicious cheese curds!

All in all my birthday rendezvous in Milwaukee was everything I hoped for and more. The downtown area and hotel was full of charm and kitsch, and just what the doctor ordered.

Kitschy Kool: Volume 5: Orla Kiely for Target

I love when Target picks up great designers to make affordable collections for the masses, and Orla Kiely is no exception. I love her stuff! Her vibrant prints are really fun and kitschy. I have been coveting many of her bags, but have never put out the cash yet to make one my own. 

I really have loved her Multi Stem Holdall, ever since I saw it a long while ago at Anthropologie because I think it's so cute:

And lucky me (us) I just read today here that her collection is due to hit Target Stores in February; I couldn't be more excited! (Too bad it's more housewares than bags, but oh well).

Yes, her prints are completely kitschy, mod and 70's throw back, and I agree with some other bloggers that taking home the entire collection would look like That 70's Show threw up in your house, but like every good trend, less is more. 

For instance, I like this more edited selection, from her Target Collection, that I saw featured on the SCOOP today.

I can definitely see one or two of these items at my house, maybe one or two pear canisters and a pitcher. Can't you just picture yourself as a kitschy kool housewife with this stuff?

Now I just hope that I actually get a heads up to exactly when this will hit my Target store, because whenever they feature these designers I feel like you need to get there in the first few days or else it's all picked over.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Kitschy Kool!

Kitschy Kool: Volume 4: Board Games Old & New

Last night we hosted a game night at our house for around 10 of us. These are my favorite kind of nights, filled with good food, good friends and some good healthy competition ;-) (Seriously, whomever says the can play games just for fun, is a total liar… I play to win!)

So last night, since we had so many people, we played a few rounds of a newer favorite Apples to Apples. What a great party game for young and old, 4 players or 14 players. We love it and so did our guests. 

Later after a few guests left, 6 of us stuck around to play Scattergories. Now this is a classic game from the 80's that I literally have never lost when I played it; thus, it never gets old (at least for me)!

This game night made me reminisce on some favorite games from my childhood. Every year at Christmas, I used to go through the no defunct Service Merchandise catalog and fill my Christmas list with tons and tons of game, literally every game in the book!

Some of my favorite off the top of my head were...

Ker Plunk:

Similar concept to Jenga, in Ker Plunk you were supposed to slowly and carefully pull out each plastic stick, making the least number of marbles fall. The player with the least amount of marbles at the end wins!

We gave our nephew a more modern and childlike version of this game for Christmas, called Tumblin’ Monkeys. Same concept, just monkeys instead of marbles.

Next we have, Guess Who?:

I loved this game! Here’s a photo of the old-school version we had as kids. (sidenote: I think I had a crush on the boy on the box when I was a kid, lol.)

This is the game where you flip over a collection of faces with different color hair, eye color, hair, hats, glasses etc. to deduce who the secret person is that your opponent has chosen, by asking a serious of “yes” or “no” characteristic questions. It really honed my detective skills, which I thought might come in handy if I were to become a detective ;-)

And oh how I loved, Electronic Talking Battleship:

What can I say, except that the original Battleship was full of cheaters. See below:

Who did not move their ship a little to the left or the right when your friend called out a coordinate that landed on your ship?

Well, with Electronic Talking Battleship you could cheat no more! This thing KNEW where your ships were.

Press in the coordinates with your little red and yellow buttons and then just wait for the board to say "Destroyer Hit!" or better yet, “Battleship Sunk!”. Sweet Victory.

There are so many other games over the years that I loved, but I’ll leave you with this somewhat creepy, very kitschy and oh-so random game we also owned, Mr. Gameshow:

Mr. Gameshow was a plastic, electronic talking gameshow host that led you thru the game. As the box pointed out, it was "Just like a real game show in your home!" The game played in Mr. Gameshow resembled "Wheel of Fortune". Players earned money for correctly solving the puzzle. Most money at the end of the game wins. Classic! I loved ( and still do, love) gameshows, so this was quite a cool game in it’s day.

And she’d kill me if she EVER read this, but one time we caught my baby sister “making out” with "Mr. Game Show"(what a creepy guy) ...

...in the game-closet in our basement, so of course this holds a special place in my heart, lol.

Well, that is my latest edition of Kitschy Kool, featuring board games of past and present. Feel free to comment on some of your favorite games as well, I love being reminded of those blasts for the past!

Kitschy Kool: Volume 3: Quiche

Yes, Quiche. lol. A little old-school, packed with calories and utterly delicious! My mother-in-law made us a bacon and egg quiche while we were home for Christmas and it rekindled my love for these savory pies/tarts.

I also follow a blog called Artsy-Foodie and today she posted a recipe for crustless quiche (that has to make it a little healthier, right?)...doesn't that sound and look divine? It sounds so simple, yet so scrumptious and perfect for a New Year's brunch.

Potato Spinach Crustless Quiche (serves 6-8)
1 1/2 cups sauteed chopped spinach
1 1/2 cups roasted potatoes, diced size
16 oz lowfat cottage cheese
1/2 cup egg whites
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup shredded cheese (mild cheddar or italian mix)
3 tablespoons GF breadcrumbs

Preheat oven 375F
Oil a ceramic lasagna dish

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Transfer to the baking dish. Bake for 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

I think I may try it this weekend!

And if you are looking to start off this New Year with a clean kitchen and prefer to eat out instead, one of my favorite places to order quiche in the Saint Louis area is at the The Blue Owl, in historic Kimswick, MO. This place may be more quaint than kitschy, with all the ladies serving you in big blue frilly aprons, but any way you slice it they have delicious quiche and pies. They always have a quiche (or 3) of the day and they are totally yummy.

Lastly, in effort to forcefully theme "Kitchy Kool" with "Quiche" for this posting, I googled "kitschy quiche" and wouldn't you know it, came up with a blog featuring a recipe for "kitsch quiche", lol. Sounds good, if you want to try it...mmmm Gruyere cheese.

So as we round out 2008, I hope to kick off my New Year with a quiche or two and maybe I have inspired you to do the same!

Kitschy Kool: Volume 2: Nativity Sets

So I realized this week what our tree was missing, a Nativity Scene! I'm not really sure I want a traditional carved or ceramic one, so I went on the search for a kitschy-cool nativity set... what? Jesus, Mary & Joseph can be "kool" too :-)

So here are my finds so far:

Option #1: Children's Felt Nativity

I mean, what's not to love here! You all know my feelings on felt this season, so what a great addition:

Option #2: Little People: Christmas Story Nativity

Ok, maybe I just love toys, but isn't this cute...err, I mean kitschy kool:

Option #3: Vintage Christmas Manger

Of course, last but not least, I could not leave out my favorite site Etsy ! And look what I found in their vintage listings, a 1950's cardboard nativity set:

Ok, so time to vote, which of these kitschy kool nativity sets belong under my tree?

Kitschy Kool: Volume 1: Mad Libs

I know my blog really has no clear focus, and I sort of like it that way. From my somewhat comical political run-ins to my favorite handmade finds, I really just like to chronicle my day-to-day (I know, sometimes week-to-week) events and thoughts. Plus, I have a journalism degree and USED to write for a living so I felt that if I didn't start writing again, at least casually, I'd lose it!

However, in an effort to have a bit of a theme to the randomness (I'm a conceptual person at heart) I am starting a regular blog entry which I will title "Kitschy Kool". In it, I will feature something, anything, that I choose to highlight as simply kitschy (which by the way doesn't have the most positive literal definition) yet Cool... but with a K because I like same letter alliteration ;-)

Today, for my first Kitschy Kool feature I would like to highlight Mad Libs! Who didn't love playing this retro, yet oh so cool -- and even somewhat educational -- game full of fill-in-the-blanks for your favorite parts of speech?? These were a slumber party favorite of mine:

My love for them was renewed when I found smaller, party favor versions at Target and added them to our Flower Girl & Ring bearer gifts at the rehearsal dinner. My little cousin couldn't stop playing them! And with so many varieties these days, they are still fun for young and old. 

I think I will purchase a few of these as stocking stuffer gifts this year, just for old times sake. 

So folks, I hope you enjoyed my first edition of Kitschy Kool featuring Mad Libs... From this self-proclaimed grammar & game geek to you!