Sleeping Don'ts with Sophia

Sophia Loren in Bed; 1957

Before You Go to Sleep Part 1 - Don't . . . 
[Source: Good Housekeeping; 1940]

• Don't pay your bills just before going to bed
• Don't rehearse the day's cares after lying down
• Don't eat anything late at night that is hard to digest
• Don't listen in the last news broadcast if you're a worrier
• Don't wear nightgowns of pajamas that bind
• Don't sleep facing light from window or reflected in mirror
• Don't sleep in a draught, but have plenty of cool, fresh air
• Don't weigh yourself down with too-heavy bedding
• Don't suffer from cold feet; get a hot-water bag
• Don't read with too little light or one that glares
• Don't choose a depressing or too-stimulating story
• Don't have an alarm clock that wakes you with a start

1933 Necessary Kitchen Utensils - Part 4

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933
Part 4
Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

31. 1 Knife Sharpener

32. 1 Kitchen Cutlery Set

33. 1 Cutlery Rack

34. 1 Set Biscuit Cutters



35. 1 Bread Box (if not part of cabinet)



36. 1 Cake Box (if not part of cabinet)

37. 2 Pie Plates, 9"

38. 1 Potato Masher

39. 1 Electric Beater

Or 1 Food Preparer

*Personally, I don't think I could choose. I adore my black Kitchen-Aid mixer and could never give it up, but my Foley Food Mill is great for certain things like applesauce and mashed potatoes.

1933 Necessary Cooking Utensils - Part 3

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933
Part 3
Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

21. 2 Sets of Muffin Pans (6 - 8 in set)

22. 1 Square Cake Pan (8" x 8")

23. 1 Oblong Cake Pan (5" x 10")




24. 2 Layer Cake Pans (8" or 9")




25. 1 Cooky Sheet (14" x 10")

26. 1 Roasting Pan (10" x 15")

27. 2 Wire Cake Coolers

28. 2 - 3 Casseroles

29. 1 Egg Beater

30. 1 Pair Kitchen Shears

1933 Necessary Kitchen Utensils - Part 2

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933

Part 2

Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

11. 3 Stirring Spoons (at least 1 Wooden)

12. 1 Bottle Opener

13. 1 Can Opener


14. 1 Jar Opener




15. Flour Sifter




16. 1 Cake Turner (If you don't have a Bread Spatula)

17. 1 Chopping Bowl and Chopping Knife

18. 1 Bread Board

19. 1 Utility Tray

20. 1 Rolling Pin

1933 Necessary Kitchen Essentials - Part 1

Kitchen Utensil Essentials from Good Housekeeping 1933

Part 1

Keep At or Near Your Kitchen Cabinet

1. 2 Standard Measuring Cups

2. 2 Sets of Measuring Spoons


3. 1 Set Storage Jars

4. 1 Nest of 5 Mixing Bowls

5. 6 Custard Cups or Ramekins

6. 1 Set of Graters

7. 1 Pastry Blender

8. Fruit Juice Extractor

9. 1 Coffee Making Device

10. 2 Teaspoons for Tasting

1920s Exercise 5 - Raise Up from the Floor

And now for our last 1920s exercise ladies. Appears to be a push-up. The article says only do 3 to 5 of them, which isn't too difficult for me to handle. I should be buff by this weekend :)



Spread a sheet on the carpet and kneel on it. Place hands on the floor the width of the shoulders apart. Stretch the legs out behind until the body is supported by hands and feet only.

1. Lower the body until chest touches floor, as in top figure
2. Then slowly raise to the arms' length as in bottom figure

Breathing - Inhale before pressing up; exhale while lowering. Repeat three to five times.

1920s Exercise 4: Flexion and Extension of the Foot

Don't hear the word flexion used very much. Sorry the picture didn't turn out well, but she is basically sitting and making a little circle with her foot. Here's the exercise:

Sitting Position - The leg is held slightly forward. Raise and lower the foot vigorously without bending knee, as in figure 4. Then perform a circular movement. Repeat ten times, first with one foot then with the the other.

According to the article these leg exercises should be done when you start exercising because they "equalize the circulation to distribute the blood, which from inaction might have been congested in parts of the body and to prepare the muscles for activity."

- Had no idea this was going on, but must keep the blood working.

They are also good at the end of exercising because these exercises "quiet the heart beat, which has been quickened by the preceding exercise, also to deflect the blood from other parts of the body to the legs, and to develop the muscles of the calves."

- Now I'm totally confused. How can it accelerate AND calm the blood at the same time? Not sure, but these are easy exercises to perform so I'm all for it.

1920s Excercise 3 - Knee Raising

Knee Raising - Standing position. With hands on hips balance yourself on one foot. Raise the opposite knee until it comes as near chest as possible, like figure 3. Avoid straining and do not bend the body to meet the knee. Five times each leg. Use legs alternately.

Knee Bending Backwards - This movement should be carried out while holding the same position as in the previous exercise. Bend the knee backward as far as possible. Extend the knee with vigor. Exercise each leg alternately five times.

Are You a "Lovely Menace"? Apparently I'm not

Well, were any of you a menace to other women? Stealing their boyfriends?

I took the quiz, and only got 40 points. Let's see if I am a "Lovely Menace".

Well, according to the answer key, 40 points is quite pathetic and Ponds suggest I work immediately to help my skin.

Jeepers! I had no idea I was in such dire straights. I better get my Ponds Cold Cream and get to it :)

How Do You Rate as a "Lovely Menace"?

Are you a "Lovely Menace"? Do you make every bachelor want to get hitched? Does every girl hate you because you are so fantastic?

Take Pond's 1940 Quiz to find out! Answers revealed tomorrow. Click on the photo to increase it's size.

I bet this gentleman doesn't mind using Cold Cream on the lovely Betty Grable :)

1920s Exercise 2 - Raising the Legs

Position - Holding the same position as the preceding exercise (situps). Without bending the knees and insteps extended, slowly raise the legs far enough to have them form a right angle with the trunk at the hip as in figure 2. Lower slowly. Repeat 4 more times. Basically, they are leg lifts.

(Note - the chair is just to show a right angle. It is not involved in the exercise)

Breathing - Exhale when legs go up. Inhale deeply when you lower them. Do not try to make respiration follow the movements; make the movements follow the rhythm of normal breathing.