Wednesday, October 07, 2015

Don't Forget Your Towel-and a Cake Recipe for Earth's Demise




Seemed appropriate to take these photos in the bath. The dress isn't simply made from toweling material, but rather, I suspect began life as a towel (or two). Pity the pool's closed for the season.
I must have been out of my mind to buy it, as I already own a beach cover-up made from an old towel. Two is a coincidence, three would be a collection so I must make a point of putting my foot down. Instead, I think it could use some nice trimming, perhaps pom-poms or fringe. Next time you see this towel dress, it will hopefully be newly adorned.


 It is surprisingly tricky to accesorise a towel. Really, it is.
 When in doubt, I go rhinestone.
 Outfit Particulars:
Towel dress-Fairytale Costumes, Omaha
Tunic-Dots, about 15 years ago
Cardigan-Gordman's about 10 years ago
Earrings-Thrift Store in Wisconsin
Necklace-Somewhere in Western Massachusetts, can't remember
Handbag (or cosmetics bag, take your pick) Hand-me-Ups
Bracelet-Can't remember
Tights-K Mart
Fragrance-Caron Bellodgia
This week has been shit-I can't find a nicer way to put it. As I'm only halfway through it, I knew it was going to take something powerful to get me out of bed this morning (other than the laundry waiting downstairs). I've been keeping this dress since summer when I bought it knowing there would be a day when the only sort of pick-me-up that would work comes in dress form. I'm glad I saved it. The photos in the bathroom mirror might not be the best, but I sure did feel happy zipping squeezing myself into it and facing the day with a brightly coloured new piece of clothing. Some people do drugs, I go thrifting. For the $3.99 I spent it was cheaper than a drink, and anyway I wouldn't start my morning with a cocktail (yet. But never say never!).



 Pssst. C'mere, I'll tell 'ya something interesting. Oh, sorry...coffee breath...anyway, know what really cheers me up?
Well yeah, that too but get your mind out of the gutter for a second.

When we were in Grand Island earlier this year I found some vintage perfumes.
This beauty only set me back a couple dollars, and I've been displaying it on my perfume tray in rotation with the others. I don't keep all my perfumes out at the same time (bad for perfume, and more to dust) but this bottle is too pretty to keep hidden. I think I'll decant it, and just display the bottle. The cologne itself isn't anything incredible, but the bottle design is such fun.
 The woman at our garden centre that always takes care of us told me I could have, "Worse hobbies" but she was only commenting on the plants. She has no idea what's going on in my bedroom (the perfumes, sigh, the perfumes. You guys really have your minds in the gutter).
 And don't forget the current decants waiting for reviews. I had to improvise holders, but last week I bought a wooden tray with compartments. Now, I just need to clear out a drawer. Good luck, I know!
I can't imagine why anyone would get the idea I'm interested in perfume?
Anyway, if you've been following the, "news" today (Wednesday) is the day the Earth is supposed to end. Sure, it is the same group that said it would happen last May, and then last week with the Blood Moon, but this time, this time they're certain they have it right. So I've got my towel(ling), and here's an incredibly quick, easy coffee cake you can bake (to serve with coffee-there isn't any coffee in it) because it would be a pity to go out trying to suck a kale smoothie through a straw.
I promise, it is simple to make. I omitted the nuts and used 1/2 cup of plain granola instead which gives it a bit of crunch and lightness. If you don't have granola, just toast some rolled oats in a pan and that should do. If the world doesn't end, you can always make it for breakfast tomorrow as a sort of celebratory, "Hey, the world didn't end" cake. Your gamble. Personally, I don't procrastinate when it comes to cake (and the end of the world).

You Will Need:

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons soft butter
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup toasted oats, granola or chopped nuts

Batter:
1 1/2 cups plain flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup melted and cooled butter
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Grease an 8x8x2 square baking pan. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Prepare the topping by mixing together the dry ingredients and cutting in the butter. Set aside.

For the batter-mix together the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until foamy. Slowly beat in the sugar, and melted butter until well combined. Add milk and vanilla-mix well. Stir in the flour mixture and take care not to over-mix. Pour half of the batter in the pan. Cover with half the topping, then repeat with remaining batter and topping.

Bake 20-30 minutes (depending on your oven)or until it tests done with a toothpick. Cool slightly in pan on a wire rack. Serve warm with cream or vanilla ice cream.

The cake is easily re-warmed in the microwave next morning...if there is one.


See you tomorrow-probably. Might be best to wear any clothes you've been saving...and don't forget your towel!


8 comments:

ThriftyParka said...

What a smashing dress! Well you bring the towel (dress) and I'll bring the peanuts, beer and Vogon poetry.

Dammit, and I just finished paying all the bills. I should have spent it on Swaroski crystal!!!

Happy thrifting :)

Bibi said...

Oh the memories-
"Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There's a frood who really knows where his towel is."

Love that necklace & earrings too!

Anyhooo...... Lots going on in our bedroom too.
Due to weather extremes here I store my perfume bottle excess in a pair of huge antique hatboxes under the bed- then I leave a few 'seasonally appropriate' bottles out inside our bedroom wardrobe on a shelf (the Sheikh has his own shelf of 'fumes he rotates through also). Our bedrooms are the only rooms that have AC- & so are the only temperature 'stable' rooms in the house.
My decants are stored in a 100 round flip top ammo case in the veg drawer of the fridge. Ammo boxes are usually airtight & the little decant vials stay upright (less prone to leakage) in the slots for the bullets. Ammo boxes are also really cheap, I bought mine at Walmart for like $10. Plus I feel so 'bad ass' & American with an ammo box in my fridge.

Mim said...

Such a drool-worthy perfume collection. I love seeing it (and it makes me feel less guilty about the size of my own, which is tiny by comparison).

I'm sorry you've been having a dreadful week. I hope it gets better from here on. That towelling dress looks really cosy, which must be a comfort.

It's national petry day here in the UK (is that a global thing too?) and to judge by the tosh on the radio this morning, the Vogons have already arrived.

Sue said...

Pom Poms!! Must have pom poms on your towel dress!!

Curtise said...

Boo to the shitty week, hurray for the fabulous towelling dress and a hundred bottles of perfume!
I am horribly behind with commenting - I've read all your posts though, and just wanted to say how cool that yellow pleated skirt is, not to mention your pumpkin sculpture in the front garden!
Simon likes Tunnock's teacakes and buys them occasionally - I'm not a marshmallow fan so I can rest their charm very easily.
End of the world? No one told me, I just carried on as usual. Turns out, that was entirely appropriate - see, I CAN do it! xxx

Goody said...

@Thrifty Parka
Drats, Thursday has come and we're all still here. Ah well, guess I'll get to that laundry now.

@Bibi
I just got the most hilarious mental image of a thief thinking they're stealing ammo and getting a bunch of perfume decants instead.

@Mim
If we have a National Poetry Day, I'm not aware of it (Liking poetry is the sort of thing that would get you beat-up around here...unless it was poetry about football). I saw something in the Guardian about people reading poems to goats, but I haven't got to reading the article.

@Sue
There you go-now I am encouraged to do it! I'll have to find a nice shade of blue to stand out against the purple.

Beth Waltz said...

Well, at least no one is reciting bad poetry at you...yet.

I regard your perfume tray with the same gleam in my greedy green eyes as I peer at Helga's wardrobe and Sue's garden. I vant to be alone with them to sniff, and touch, and sniff.

Goody said...

@Curtise

Of course you can do it!

@Beth Waltz
You haven't heard Danny's poems. The latest has a bad mannered woman named, "Biscuit" that lives in an iron lung.

Seriously, if there's something oddball you want me to decant for you, drop me an email and I'll see if I have it.