High hopes...

Hi, Hi Monday!  We are so excited to start the week off as we are still giddy from our amazing night out this past Saturday at the Affair to Care.  Due to some minor accidents {two red wine stained dresses + one major dress malfunction}, we unfortunately do not have any cute pictures to share from the event....but we have our memories, right?  *Please call one of us for sharing time if you need a good laugh today.  But we do have a pic of yet another Faylinn from our Isis Collection.  We simply cannot get enough of jewelry with geodes.    

The two things we really love about this Faylinn are the larger size and contrast of colors.  Also you might have noticed in the first picture the high rise of the jeans.  The two of us at Vintage Teal both went shopping this weekend separately and purchased these amazing dark, high-waisted jeans from Forever 21.  We love, love them.  Check back tomorrow for something new...vt*  

P.S.  Our two lovelies in this weekend's silent auction at the event were a hit.  So much so, that two very sweet bidders where guarding the display minutes before the auction closed to ensure that they made it home with some VintageTeal.  This of course was the cherry on top since we were so excited to be a part of the silent auction that raised an amazing amount of funds for pediatric cancer research.  {We love you Jules & are so proud of you!}

Tip your hats to Union Jack...

{Union Jack}

Happy Friday to you!  Vintage Teal has lots to celebrate today as we have a big weekend on the horizon, and one of us has some special new opportunities all in a week's work.  Since we are both fans of the red, white, and blue, we are loving the recent rize of popularity for Union Jack.  Below are some of our favorite ways to incorporate the bold imagine into your lair.

{Pretty Pillow}

{Incorporate your Union Jack into a symmetrical wall collage.}

{This Union Jack adds a bit of warmth to a room for resting.}

{Several Union Jacks tie this electic guest room together.}

   For those of you that love the red, white, and blue, we hope that Union Jack might be a new good friend to bring some primary colors to you.  We will take lots of pics at the Affair to Care, so we can share our night.  Get some rest..vT*

We see London...

We see London, we see France, we see {nope not underpants} S-W-E-A-T-P-A-N-T-S!  As the weekend starts to creep up on us, we find the inevitable craving to be comfy.   AudioEnglish.net says that sweatpants are loose-fitting trousers with an elastic cuff worn by athletes.  Close...but who really needs an ounce of athletic ability to throw on some sweats.  For as long as we can remember, sweats meant large sweatshirt material pants with the occasional words on the tush.  We can't help but still feel embarrassed that the possibility of being bribed in the future by an evil someone, who has gotten their hands on a picture of us in hot pink sweats with the word "sassy" on the butt, is a real possibility.  Nevertheless, life goes on, and we are excited about the new and shockingly adorable sweats that seem to be popping up everywhere. 

J.Crew charcoal grey sweats perfect for dressing up and down.

High-waisted sweats + knotted belt + fur...yes pleas.

J.Crew sparkle sweats...is this real life?

Long, cropped, high/low-waisted, fitted, baggy...pick your poison.

We see London, we see France, we don't care if you see our sweatpants...Happy Thurs...vT*

w. is for wilted spinach salad...

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man,I'm Popeye the Sailor Man. I'm strong to the finich, Cause I eats me spinach. I'm Popeye the Sailor Man.--Popeye

So, VintageTeal has been craving this recipe for a while now and so we thought we would post it so you guys can crave it too...It is fairly simple and so fulfilling you won't realize you are eating a salad. The warm bacon vinaigrette gives this salad a hearty taste that you can't achieve with ranch, even though, being that we live in the South, we like our ranch :)

Wilted Spinach Salad Ingredients
16 oz fresh spinach, washed
3-4 pieces bacon
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 c minced onion
1/8 tsp sugar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
sea salt/pepper
{whatever else you would like, ie. meat of choice or veggies of choice}
{...Also, we left this ingredient off, but traditional spinach salad is served with sliced hard boil eggs, which are fab on there if you have time!}

|1.| Wash and dry spinach and place in large salad serving bowl.
|2.| Fry bacon, and set aside to drain.
|3.| Leave bacon grease in pan and saute onions in grease.
|4.|Add oil olive, balsamic vinegar, salt/pepper and sugar to onion and grease mixture.
|5.| Drizzle warm bacon vinaigrette over spinach.
|6.| Let cool and then feel free to add any other veggies or top with shrimp or chicken if you would like.
Serves 2-4

Wilted Spinach Salad

Bon apetite!!*vT

She wears the pants...

As a general thing, when a woman wears the pants in a family, she has a good right to them."--Josh Billings

We here at VintageTeal grew up in the mid-90's, early-00's, so we remember the time when low waisted pants ruled the streets. Now that we are older and our style is, dare we say, more refined, we are really loving the high waisted, wide leg trouser look. Skinnies have been in for so long, we are glad to let our legs have a breath of fresh air.

Hello 1940

Katherine Hepburn always looked astonishing... who wouldn't want to dress like her from time to time? A few tips for wearing this classy look. Go with a fitted top{maybe a cardigan or a plain white tank with lovely piece of jewelry, see post above for some new vT pieces}, tucked in to the pant and belted if necessary. Also, a wedge or heel is a must when wearing this look. Check out local vintage shops for some great deals on wide legged trousers.

Katherine Hepburn

Wild, but we love it!

Classic looks by MK

Happy Tuesday readers! *vT

For "The Affair to Care"...

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world." -Anne Frank

We are so very excited to share two new pieces with you today.  Not only because we love their rich colors and pretty gems, but because these pieces are for a very special affair.  The Southeastern Young Alumni Charitable Foundation Nashville {SEYA} is just what you would think, a group of amazing young alumni in the Southeastern Conference, who's goal is to raise money for pediatric cancer research.  Each year, "The Affair to Care" is one of SEYA's amazing fundraisers {When: Saturday 29th, 2011..tickets are sold out, but you can always check Craigslist}.  Complete with an open bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music, and a silent auction, this night is dedicated to raising money for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.  This organization also has a special place in our hearts because one of our best friends is on the board and the co-chair of this year's silent auction.  We were so delighted when she came to us asking for a custom piece...we made two:)  First up...the "Faylinn."

{Bidding Starts at $40.00}

This piece might look familiar too you.  The "Faylinn" from our Isis Collection seems to be one of our more popular pieces.  For this "Faylinn," the burnt red and iridescent multi-colored beads form a classic bib combined with antique, dusty metal, but made unique with richly, colored geodes.  As someone fondly shared of the "Faylinn," this girl looks like a "geological rock party" on your neck.

Second in line... the "Christine."

{Bidding Starts at $25.00}

The "Christine" is one of our newest designs in the Agatha Collection.  Made with a simple, antique chain and one of a kind bracelet links, the "Christine" proves to be subtle and striking all at the same time.  We have been anxiously awaiting her debut and felt that "The Affair to Care" was the perfect first party for "Christine."

Together we think these two are a perfect pair.  Coming to "The Affair to Care"?  Bid on one or the other or both.  Not coming to "The Affair to Care," but interested in these two ladies?  Email us at VintageTeal@gmail.com.  We hope you have an amazing Monday..vT* 

Stripes done right...

"As long as we have Zebras in our midst, I shall be content." -Atlo Dogong {@ a trade meeting in Nairobi, Kenya}

Zebra

 

 

 

When in comes to animal prints, many love leopard spots, but zebra stripes often seem to come in a distant second.  The zebra itself is such a beautiful creature, and there is no doubt they always seem to stand out in their natural habitat.  However, we understand why they so rarely receive the blue ribbon when it comes to design because it is not an easy print to incorporate into your home.  Though created with a simple black and white, if done incorrectly any zebra print {no matter how pretty} can make you want to shut your eyes.  So for all of you zebra stripe lovers...we have taken some time today to show you some stripes done right.

Zebra pillows are the perfect way to start small with stripes.

We are not sure about that mirror, but the sweet little ottoman..yes please.

The zebra rug really brings out the clean black & white color scheme of this soothing living space.

Mixing zebra prints surprisingly works here with a faded rug and vibrant bed frame.

The larger zebra print size and rustic wash of this wall makes for a work of art. {A Zebra Wall...certainly for the stripe loving.}

We hope you have enjoyed the stripes.  Now maybe you will feel a little bit better about doing it right...happy weekend..vT*

When it rains, it pours...

"If you like Pina Coladas,And getting caught in the rain,If you're not into yoga,If you have half a brain,If you'd like making love at midnight,In the dunes on the Cape,Then I'm the love that you've looked for,Write to me and escape."--Rupurt Holmes

Rain, Rain go away, come again another day...Life is too short to wear a bad outfit we say! That means when it rains and snows and the elements are trying to prevent us from looking our best, we fight back and show mother nature how phenomenal we can look in our rain gear. Options, options.... Umbrella, check. Rain boots, check. Raincoat with cute hood, check. Okay, now you are ready to take on the world... or at least that cute boy in the coffee shop. Here are a few looks we adore.

Caught in the rain...

Look at these options!

Burberry Rainboots, yes please!

Burberry Umbrella

Fingers crossed the rain isn't here to stay too long, even though we know we will look great {our hair is a different story} no matter what! Almost Friday...*vT

s. is for Superbowl {or anytime} black bean salsa...

"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman

Being that Superbowl is just around the corner{and yes, we know not all the ladies that read this blog are into Superbowl, but the lucky boys in our life probably are} we thought we would post a delicious and super easy recipe that you can bring to a Superbowl party! Black bean salsa. This salsa is great on tortilla chips or makes an awesome accoutrement to a seafood or chicken dish. We are willing to bet, if you keep a fully stocked pantry, you will not have to go to the store for much!

Black Bean Salsa Ingredients
2 cans black beans, rinsed
1 can yellow corn, rinsed
1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes,rinsed
1 can ROTEL,rinsed
1 bunch finely chopped cilantro
1 small white onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 small can sliced black olives, rinsed
Juice of 1 fresh lime
1 avocado, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

|1.| Pour all ingredients that are supposed to be rinsed in a colander in the sink and rinse throughly.
|2.| In large bowl, combine garlic, cilantro, green pepper, onion, olive oil and lime juice. Stir.
|3.| Pour all contents of colander into bowl and combine, salt and pepper to taste.
|4.| Let sit in refrigerator for 2-4 hours before serving. Serve on tortilla chips! bon appetite!*vT

Yum!

Sock talk...

"Politicians who wear little tennis socks with the balls at the back should not be taken seriously." -Anonymous

We have to agree that it would be difficult to be "a force to be reckoned with", while sporting little tennis socks with the balls at the back.  But today's blog is dedicated to showing a little public pride for your socks as we highlight one of our favorite trends....socks and heels.  Neutral, textured, colored, printed, short, and or tall socks, the options are endless.  Some of our favorite looks even daringly pair socks with wedge sandals and peep toes.  Gone are the sad days when we have to waive good-bye to our favorite warm weather friends as chilly days approach.  So lets talk S-O-C-K-S!

Scared? Choosing matching socks and heels in a neutral color palette is a great way to start testing the waters.

Intrigued? Skip the safe step and start experimenting with blacks and browns.

Excited?  Dig out your favorite satin pumps and socks in a different, but complimentary color and don't look back.

Tall, medium, short, scrunched, neutral, colored, or patterned with sandals, heels, or boots the sock world can be your oyster.

  So stock up on socks...happy Tues...vT*

For Jackie...

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!  We hope that your city has as many amazing opportunities to celebrate this special day as ours!
We have been looking forward to sharing this picture since the holidays, so we are happy to let you take a peak at the "Jacquelyn" named after the lucky lady it was purchased for from our Agatha Collection.

 Anything but ordinary this piece also has a sweet story.  As our first holiday show was beginning to wrap up, we had a friend stop by to pick something out for his very special lady.  As we were showing him all the pieces we thought she might like, he walked right up to this girl and said, "How about this one?"  Of course we love this piece as it is the only of its kind and made from a vintage rhinestone belt buckle.  We also were a tinsy bit surprised he picked it as we thought this bold accessory might leave some, especially men, scratching their head.  But his mind was made up.  Purchased and packaged he left with a grin.  Our favorite part of the story...he told us that she loved it so much he had to tell her she couldn't wear it every day*  Wondering what Vintage Teal would pair this piece with...

FOR NOW:  While it is still chilly, this look + cute, warm socks + a soft, turtle neck +  the "Jacquelyn" + your favorite coat

FOR LATER: When its warm, this look + the "Jacquelyn - those shows

  We hope you are still enjoying your necklace Jackie...vT*

 

Hang at home...

Literally hang at home.  How you ask us?  One word...H-A-M-M-O-C-K*  To go along with our feelings of winter snoozing, we though what better way to chill inside or out.  Happy Friday...vT*

snooze outside...

 

snooze inside...

or with a loved one.

Classy Clusters...

"You can always tell what kind of person a man thinks you are by the kind of earrings he gives you."-Audrey Hepburn

Feeling nostalgic? We are. We have been dreaming of vintage cluster earrings this week and thinking about all the ways we can wear these pretty little things to jazz up our look.  Earrings are one of the most simple ways to change your look. They can help frame your face and round out an outfit for the "oh-so-perfect" look. VintageTeal is currently looking high and low for vintage cluster earrings for a very special bride friend. She asked us if we would be able to help her locate some beautiful pieces for her wedding and we were elated to accept the task...We have been to flea markets, antique malls and dug through some estate sales and we have come up with some lovely options for the beautiful bride. Here are a few looks where the earrings really shined :)

SLP looking classy in clusters

Sparkle...

A. Hepburn looking sassy

Think about digging through your mother/grandmother's jewelry box that is in the attic and covered in dust. A little jewelry cleaner and a little love and these pieces will be as good as {and as sparkly as} new! These earrings were a huge hit in the 1920's and 1930's and they are appearing everywhere for 2011 trends. The more sparkle and sass, the better. Pearls, colored stones and glass beads also can help with this signature look. Enjoy your Thursday. <3 *vT

c. is for coconut shrimp curry...

"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."  -Bubba 

There are few things as hearty as a Thai curry dish on a chilly winter night.  Curry has a natural rich aroma and fills the entire house with a delicious scent. Tonight, VintageTeal made an old staple, their coconut shrimp curry recipe served over orzo. Yum... There are two main types of curry: Thai and Indian. Both embody bold rich flavors and are full of color. Thai curry uses coconut milk{don't be scared if you don't like coconut, we promise the coconut flavor itself is extremely mild} and Indian curry uses yogurt as a base. The execution is similar, but the flavors and spices used are vastly different. This recipe is designed to feed a lot of people, so feel free to invite your family and friends. We promise it will not disappoint!

Curry Ingredients

1 large white onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 1/2 cup white button mushrooms, chopped

2 1/2 tbsp garlic, minced

2 tbsp lemon grass, minced

3 tbsp green curry paste

2 tsp fish sauce

1 cup frozen peas

1 can light coconut milk

1 tsp fresh lime juice

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup Wundra {for thickening-can substitute 1/8 cup flour}

12 oz orzo pasta

4 tbsp olive oil

1 lb large, de-veined fresh shrimp without shells/tails

1/2 tsp salt

Preparation:

|1.| Boil pan of water {with salt} in preparation for orzo.

|2.|  In large wok/medium deep skillet heat 2 tbsp olive oil

|3.|  Add 2 tbsp garlic, onion, mushroom, & bell peppers.  Cook on medium-high heat until translucent, but still slightly crunchy.

|4.|  Add fish sauce, lemon grass, & 2 1/2 tbsp curry paste to vegetable mixture.  Continue to cook on medium heat for approx. 2 minutes.  Season with salt & pepper.

|5.|  Add lime juice, chicken stock, & coconut milk.  Stir continuously to prevent burning.

|6.|  In separate skillet, heat remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil.

|7.|  Add remaining 1/2 tbsp of curry paste, remaining 1/2 tbsp garlic, & shrimp.  Cook until shrimp is pink.

|8.| While shrimp are cooking, add Wundra, to sauce to thicken.  Reduce heat & stir vigorously until sauce begins to thicken.   Season with salt & pepper.

|9.|  Add shrimp mixture & frozen peas to sauce & stir. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Serve curry shrimp mixture over orzo pasta & enjoy!

Bon Appetite! *vT

His closet...

Over the past couple of days Nashville has been covered in an oh so beautiful layer of snow.  We love many of the things that come along with snow...fires, hot chocolate, cozy nights in, and of course stylish winter wear.  Today, we bring you one of our favorites, especially when dressing for snow...the boyfriend trend.  Hopefully you already know your sweet man's closet can be a wonderful place to hunt for over sized button ups, bow ties, blazers, over sized jackets, slouchy pants, and even jeans depending on your man's size.  We have found that men's items have rustic patterns and often times the heavier fabrics and over sized fit for women can be just the key to keeping you cozy on those chilly, snow days.

{vest J.Crew, ducklings Sperry, sweater Ralph Lauren Men's, bag DVF, scarf Forever21}

{antique ring Pangea & necklace Vintage Teal mini-Aztec}

  For this look, we snagged an oversized sweater and checked button up from a sweet man's closet.  Though the look still remains to be very rustic, we added some frilly touches with a Vintage Teal mini-Aztec necklace, gold and army green threaded scarf, and DVF woven bag.  If this is a little too "outdoors woman" for you, we have selected a couple of other looks below for you to try with items you can sneak out of your man's closet.  See you tomorrow for our latest kitchen adventure...vT*

{A fresh look for slouchy lounge pants...often a staple in men's wardrobes}

{Men's colored khakis + Men's light army green jacket= sweet weekend look}

{Why not try your man's sweater as a comfy dress?}

{Add cute booties with your boyfriend jeans and you will be ready for flurries}