Obesity Pandemic: SOLVED. Subway Style...

Today I took my kiddos out for a spontaneous picnic lunch.

After all, I felt guilty that their breakfast consisted of a splash of milk and a fruity granola bar.

Some people in the house may have overslept a wee bit this morning...or a lot of bits. Like 72 bits. Which is really just 6 bunches of bits. Yes, now that doesn't sound so bad.

Anywho, we were a little flustered getting Bubbalu off to preschool in time (hence the gourmet breakfast) and while zipping up his coat I accidentally caught the side of his face with my fingernail. BIG scratch. BIG tears. Needing lots of snuggles, cold pack application and kisses...45 min late to school.

*sigh*

So it goes.

After picking Bubbalu up from school we had the normal debate as to where to head to pick up a lunch. I always choose Subway. Or at least 98% of the time. Yet, that measly 2% of the time (McD's) is pined after by the young-uns. The holy grail of childhood dining.

While sitting on a bench at the local ball field playground munching our turkey subs I had an epiphany.

Get ready, these don't come often.


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Amen? I tell ya, many a parent has bemoaned the lack of a children's play place at Subway. Seriously.

Dear Subway,

If you install a fun, brightly colored children's play place in most of your fine fast food establishments I am guessing your profits would DOUBLE. Or TRIPLE. Depending on how many crawl though tubes and tunnels you have. Maybe you could have a ginormous crawl though sub sandwich. How fun would that be!? Add in a slide fashioned from a carved out cucumber that lands in a pit of large plastic tomatoes and you are golden.

As a special request, might you consider adding a time out chair in the corner? You know, so I can politely point it out to the parent of the child who is karate chopping my son in the stomach? That'd be great.

For your convenience, my royalties can be direct deposited via paypal.

Sincerely,

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

January: Whew...

Once again, life got in the way of blogging! Massive January update:

We started off the year with Lance and I heading out of town to escape for a winter wonderland weekend in Winthrop, WA. Say that five times fast.

As is always the case before we head out on a vacay, I spend many hours packing the kiddos things and whisking them off to Grandmas, packing my things, packing our food, loading the car yadda yadda yadda. Of course it's all topped off with the inability to leave dirty dishes in the sink and you got yourself a tired Mama.

Seriously, I have to bleach spray my sink before I leave or I get all jittery and uneasy. Genetic predisposition maybe? Hmmm, maybe some of Grandma's Dutch deep cleaning stuck!

After our 6 hour drive, we met our Bro and Sis-in-law in Winthrop and stayed in a charming cabin overlooking the Methow River. Private hot tub on the deck, full kitchen, large cozy rooms, fireplace, and SNOW. So very wonderful!

We got a lovely first day of cross country skiing in doing a 14.5 mile loop. The first half was a hard uphill climb then you got to turn around and coast (aka, fly down the mountain praying you don't catch a ski edge and wipe out) the entire way back down to the car.

To warm up you head back to the cabin and jump into the hot tub! And because you are a smart person, keeping in mind to not drastically underestimate your core body temp and stay in so long you overheat. *Ahem*

The next day the boys decided to head out of town a mile or so up in the mountains to find better snow for sledding fun. The girls? Sleep in, watch movies, lazily drink our coffee (while sitting in the hot tub of course) then stroll through town and shop a bit.

FINALLY decide we should go see the boys and drive up there...Only to find Lance lying by the side of the road. Um. WHAT?

A rock? Oh. Where? Submerged in the snow. Oh. Lance took a direct hit to his shoulder blade? Yeesh.

Fast forward a 20 minute agonizingly bumpy drive down snowy mountain roads, 15 minutes worth of frenzied packing up the entire cabin while Lance stays in the car and moans ( we threw everything in the cars as fast as possible - really, it was quite a site to behold. If only I could pack that way), and a tense hour and a half drive to the Chelan ER where the ER nurse says:

"No, you couldn't POSSIBLY have broken your scapula, do you know how many G's of force that takes!?"

Fast forward 45 minutes:

"So, the X-ray shows you broke your right scapula."

Yep.

"So what position exactly was your arm in when you hit the rock?"

"Well, it was raised up because I was holding the video camera". I tell ya, I bust out laughing. Not sure if Lance thought it was funny or not. The ER doc just raised his eyebrows.

Ah yes, I love humor in stressful situations. Does that mean I'm emotionally immature? Maybe. While pregnant with Lil Chick at 34ish weeks and my OB doc said she was admitting me for full time hospital bedrest I SMILED. Nope, didn't cry. Didn't freak out. Just smiled.

For your viewing pleasure, the sled crash:



SO. Needless to say it has been slightly chaotic over here. I dug my nursing cap out of storage, was a single Mama to Bubbalu and Lil Chick, tried to keep a handle on the house (unpacking, blech) and ran my Etsy shop. Not going to lie to you, it wasn't easy. I was quite overwhelmed!

After a couple of rocky weeks Lance is now back at work and healing nicely. We were so very thankful that surgery was not required...and that our Sis in law is the nurse for an EXCELLENT orthopedic Doc! Ya know, being a Dentist and severely injuring your right arm/shoulder/back is not a good thing. SO thankful he is healing well.

A week after his accident, we had a fun week of snow in our hometown, schools cancelled and everything! Snow that lasts is a rare treat and the kiddos had SO much fun playing outside. I discovered a love of shoveling snow as our regular snow shoveler was still lying on the couch healing. Seriously, making ginormous piles of snow that take weeks to melt? YES.

I went cross country skiing through town the first night of the snow with my bro and sis in law and took a hard fall, spraining my ankle pretty bad. Awesome.

I may have cried a few times over the next few days. Just keeping it real.

10 days later and I am now the one healing nicely....but am fighting a nasty lingering sinus infection.

Doggedly determined to NOT be down. To NOT be cynical. To NOT get angry. I think that's how Satan gets to me. Throw a TON of stressful stuff all at once and watch me crumble. Nope. Not gonna work.

I'm leaning on the Lord.

After all, HE is in charge.

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

Bullet Point Catch-up...

Lands sakes alive our December was chaos.

Anyone else?

I'm reduced to bullet point snippets to bring all 3 readers back up to speed:

• Christmas. Phew! It was BUSY. The past Month was so packed I have a hard time remembering it all.
• That's why I'm having a hard time letting it go.
  
• My Christmas tree is still up.
  
• 9.5 ft tall Nordman Fir
  
• Yes, it's a live tree...No, it isn't dropping needles or drying out.
• Yup, listening to Christmas music.
  
• I had it set up since the Monday after Thanksgiving.
• Didn't get it decorated until Dec 18th. Yup. That's a long time. It deserves a good long run of beauty.
• Our entire main floor got repainted.
• Ceilings too!
• Two weeks before Christmas
• Etsy shop went kabonkers...in a good kabonkery way!
• Got ALL my shopping done on time.
• Celebrated Bubbalu turning 5
• Celebrated Lil Chick turning 3
• I have a 5 and a 3 yr old....how did THAT happen!?
• Currently suffering the after affects of chaos: weakened immunity
• AKA I have a bad cold
• I got it from Bubbalu
• Who got it from Lil Chick
• Who got it from who knows where.
• Maybe the grocery cart handles that she insists on licking?
• Nah, must of caught something when she was LICKING THE BOTTOM OF HER SHOES. (insert grossed-out shudder)
• I have more than one Christmas tree. My Dad said to me, "So, this is a three Christmas tree house?"
• That wasn't the correct number....
  
• Guess what it was!?

OK, off to make myself some hot cider and pretend to make dinner for my hardworking hubby. A Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year greeting to you all :)

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

Momisphere Advice Needed...

OK, so I have something gross to talk about today. You've been warned.

Yes, it involves kids.

Yes, it involves the bathroom.

Actually, strike that, it DOESN'T involve the bathroom....catch my drift?

I have a child who (shall remain anonymous. 50% chance, guess who?) decided that the bathroom was WAY too far away and the bedroom carpet was an EXCELLENT place to deposit urine. You know, don't want to walk 6 feet and use a toilet, takes way too much time away from playing. Awesome.

I need cleaning advice. I googled it, of course, and looks like I need some sort of enzymatic cleaner. It comes in powder and liquid form. Used this before?

However, where Google fails me is that I want an option to select only results from Moms. I'll call it the Momisphere. Seriously, that would be SUPER useful, agree? Only advice from fellow Mamas, not About.com, ehow, Wikianything or shopping results for products that will clear my urine to help me pass a drug test. Really!? Dear Google, you can send my royalty check via paypal. Thankssomuch.

Mamas lemme have it, advice for cleaning DRIED (yep, didn't discover it in time) urine from carpet? I need all the help I can get!

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

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Lola's Winter Playdate...

I found a great item to help entertain the kiddos (um, I mean me) this winter:


I'm certain Lola (my Tahoe) would be oh so excited to use some of her brawn and plow snow all the live long day.

All I need is cozy clothes, a nice ginormous mocha, and a whole slew of Christmas Cd's and I'm good to go. We'll go ahead and write our own book: 'Lola and the Big Snow'

That is, if we even do get snow this year. Oh please oh please oh please! I'm ready for winter boots, chunky knit hats, a magical white wonderland and sipping hot chocolate by the fire while snow falls softly outside. I must say, I am just itching to get to decorating for Christmas. Can barely stand it.

And yes, I still celebrate Thanksgiving...I LOVE Thanksgiving! One of the things I'm MOST thankful for? Christ's birth...hence the early decorating!

Anyone else just itching to put up their Christmas decor!? Or have you already? I know I'm not alone in this!

Off to plug in twinkly lights -

Amanda -Vintage Dutch Girl

Shows Over, Let's Have A....FALL Sale!

Whew!

The Ruffles & Rust Show is over! What a blast! Learned SO SO SO much about running a booth, swiping credit cards (the Square is AWESOMESAUCE) learning what sells, what doesn't, which fabric people gravitate towards, etc.

The final booth set-up:

I've never been a saleswoman....and I detest pushy salespeople so I was really trying to be a helpful and informative shop owner not a BUY MY STUFF!!! shop owner. We found that demonstrating how to put on, arrange and wear an infinity scarf allows folks to be informed about my products, but not feel pressured.

HUGEST downside to doing this show? Not being able to shop! I saw SO many awesome booths and just wanted to go and browse through and pick up some trinkets and treasures.

Oh I have so many more thoughts on this subject but it will have to wait for now as my laundry dragon has reared its ugly flaming head again.

Also, I now have 30 hours and 55 minutes in which to complete two handmade costumes for the littles. Superhero and a princess. Predictable? Yes. But they are so excited to dress up :)

However, before I ditch y'all, I'll leave a fall treat:

Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy Fall Sale! I am turning the BUY2GET20 coupon code BACK ON! That's right, purchase two scarves and get 20% off your total! * see details below*

THIS is the time to get your Christmas Stocking stuffers all taken care of. And hint? I've got about TWENTY new fabrics all made up into scarves that just need photos and to be posted. New items posted daily for awhile!

Some shopping suggestions:

The #1 selling Fall Burnt Umber Blossom Scarf:


A classy, longer and brown toned Zebra print scarf:


A classic plaid:


The Woodland Berries Fall Scarf:



A soft and elegant Ivory Fleece:


Happy Shopping!

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

*Deal details: This coupon is to be used with the purchase of two regularly full-priced scarves. Cannot be combined with any other coupon code or use this deal on the sale/clearance section.*

Keep up to date with newest Etsy products on my Facebook page found here.

Ruffles & Rust!!!

OK folks, announcement time!
{deep breath}
I am so very honored to be invited to participate for my very first craft show! I am going to be a vendor at the uber-amazing, so-much-to-look-at-it's-dizzyin, handmade-heaven, inspirational Ruffles & Rust show! Eeek! If you've never been, it is HIGH time you go.

This HUGE 90+ vendor show, presented by Come Junk With Us, is a vintage market filled with antiques, clothing, home décor, handmade accessories and more…This show is very similar to the oh-so-sassy and fun Farm Chicks show. Uh huh. Wonderfulness.

The fun is happening October 22, 2011 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington (click for map and directions). Doors open at 9 AM, with an $8 entrance charge….but I've heard shoppers start lining up before 7 AM! Grab your gal pals and get there early with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in your hand to keep you warm while you wait :
Yesterday, I dragged my sis-in-law in with me to the recently opened Ruffles & Rust Square located in historic Snohomish, WA. We were both drooling over the fun items in there! I was able to pick up something wonderful for you…and to shop a bit, of course. I've got a COUPON for you folks! Ah yes, LOVE me a good coupon.

Present this coupon at the entrance and get $3 off your entrance fee.
$5.00 is much nicer to see than $8.00, right!? (Plus, it means you can spend moreJ). If you see me out n about, I've got one I can hand to you personally, or you can just print your coupon off right here:


I will have a LARGE assortment of my infinity scarves available to try on and purchase, with new styles and patterns I haven't yet listed in my ETSY shop.
Many of the scarves will be pre-folded and tied up with a ribbon and tag, PERFECT for gift giving. All you gotta do is throw em in a gift bag, stuff some crepe paper in and good.to.GO.
Course, I don't just plan on scarves, I've got some SASSY half aprons – Rows and rows of ruffles, each apron is one of a kind! Add in a lovely bunch of handmade earrings (from subdued colors and sizes to jaunty reds, oranges, and blues to STATEMENT earrings), some nifty, witty throw pillows and a few other secrets I've got up my sleeve and that will be one FULL booth.
I've been a busy little sewing bee, running my sewing machine, serger, and iron to their very limit. And having a MAHvelOUS time! Oh to have a maid to cook and clean so I could play all the live long day…ah yes, a lovely dream J
Click on the link for some handy hints and tips for shoppers from ComeJunkWithUs.com. Some really good info, ex. most vendors are CASH ONLY.
HOWEVER, I'll be accepting cash, paypal (if you have a smartphone with you), and Credit Cards through the tiny yet amazing and secure Square accessory for my iPhone. SO nice for shoppers who find stuff they just can't pass up! Christmas shopping 2011? Oh yes. I plan to be DONE with my shopping by the time the show ends.
I do hope to see you there, can't wait to chat with you! Off to sew again…
Amanda – Vintage Dutch Girl
Keep up to date with newest products and show updates on my Facebook page found here!

Hot Tub Chaos....

Swimming lessons are done for the day and teacher says Bubbalu can go in the hot tub. A post-lesson treat for all the kiddos. They love it! Especially in our not-always-sunny Pacific NW summers.

Mommy walks over when she decides it’s time to go and tells Bubbalu, “Ok, it’s time to go, get out and get your flip flops on”. Six pairs of 4 yr old eyes look at me.

“NO! Teacher said I could stay in here!". Five pairs of 4 yr old raised eyebrows, one pair of Mommy raised eyebrows.

“Bubbalu, GET. OUT. NOW.” (No, not yelling….the scary quiet voice paired with the look that every Mom has which primary purpose is to scare your kids witless. I'll not tell you what my MIL calls this voice and look...Something along the lines of the big scary guy who rules the underworld of fire and brimstone. Yeah.)

“NO!”. Five 4 yr old children thinking, “hey, if HE gets to run the show, maybe I should try to!?”

At this point I’m trying to maintain my dignity (and balance) while chasing a 4 yr old around a small in ground hot tub while 5 other children look on with awe at Bubbalu’s response and fear at the Momma with THE FACE. Awesome.

Course, the pool deck was jam packed with parents and grandparents watching their precious young’uns learn the art of staying alive in the water. And now watching me run around the hot tub deck trying to grab my defiant son.

Yep, I eventually won. AND I did not fall in. Score +2 for me.

Bubbalu’s consequence of his (very public) defiance? No post-swimming lesson hot tub time the next day….which was the last day of swimming lessons. Painful.

Fast forward to three hours pre-swimming lesson the next day. I’m feeling super sad about Bubbalu not getting to sit in the hot tub with his swimming buddies. He LOVES people. He LOVES making new friends. He will be very sad not going in.

I hemmed and hawed, trying to come up with alternate ideas for a consequence for him instead of banning him from the hot tub on his last day of swimming lessons. I admit I almost changed my mind.

I’m glad I didn’t. What would that be telling him? Disobey and be defiant, especially in public…Mom will be angry and punish me….then I’ll get out of it the next day. Um…NO.

That last day in the pool he was telling anyone with a pair of ears that, “My Mommy said I can’t go in the hot tub today!”

Awesome. Make me look like a mean Mommy.

Then his teacher says to him, “Hmmm, sounds like you might have gotten in trouble.” THANK YOU. YES.

Bubbalu, “Yeah, I didn’t listen. I wouldn’t get out when Mommy told me to yesterday so I don’t getta go in the hot tub today. I'm gonna listen better next time”.

Almost fist pumped the air and cheered. What I said MUST have sunk in. (Pun completely intended)

Here’s to following through!

I am by no means trying to brag about how wonderful my children are, how compliant they are with respect to discipline or even my own response. Sometimes you just gotta finally say, 'Phew, that was good". Especially when so much feels like it's going wrong. Which I have much more to share later....and it involves paint. Yup.

Amanda

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE. ***

No Fear? No Problem...

Yesterday we started up one last round of daily swim lessons before preschool starts up again.

It helps Bubbalu learn how to swim (duh) and helps keep his huge bucket-sized need of social interaction and physical activity partially filled. MUCH more full than can be accomplished sitting at home with a boring Mama and a sister to torment.

This kid has no fear. As I've said before, I've always wanted his swimming instructors to scare him a bit, to help him develop a healthy sense of fear for water.

NEVER works.

Hence the need for LOTS of swim lessons so we know he will be safer when he is around water.

This lack of fear was proved again at our local fair where he rode as many rides as his height would allow, the faster and scarier the better. Oy.

This is our first lessons at this local pool for Bubbalu. It's actually where I learned how to swim. Great memories! After a swim lesson is done, all students get a chance to go down the really tall (for a 4 yr old) slide or jump off the diving board.

Of course there was no hesitation from our thrill-seeker.

Grabbed my phone JUST in time to snap this pic of Bubbalu shooting off the end of the slide with a look of absolute glee on his face:

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Makes me laugh EVERY. SINGLE. TIME I look at it :)

Off to rinse out his swim stuff...

Amanda

VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :)

Stain and Germ Smackdown...

I cannot believe how excited I was yesterday for the FedEx truck to arrive.

I was actually giddy.

As a stay at home Mama with two very messy (and one pottytraining) younguns, I'd say these are pretty giddy-worthy:



On your left is the Eureka Enviro Steamer Hard Surface Steam Mop, 303A. I purchased mine here.

On the right is the Bissell Little Green Portable Deep Cleaner. I purchased mine here.

SO, STINKIN excited! My beautiful wood floors take a daily beating. As in milk drips from leaky sippy cups, being peed on (sad but true), trudged on with muddy shoes, sneezed on, sat on by toddlers with leaky diarrhea diapers, food squashed onto (and dried!) and other random disgusting grossness.

I hate to mop. As in hands n knees with a bucket of soapy water and a rag mop. Up till now I haven't really found any other cleaning device that is as effective as the old fashioned way. But THIS steam mop!? Cue the hallelujah chorus. Drips, smudges, etc just melted away effortlessly!

Here is a before/after shot of my kitchen floor:

Yes, they really ARE gleaming!

The ultimate test, the corner where Lil Chicks' high chair lives:


Smooth as buttah! And all it took was WATER....and killed tons of nasty bugs, because that steam? 220 degrees. Twice as much as the Shark one.

Before deciding which steam mop to get I read reviews like a crazy lady, and especially the seven steam mop comparison review on Amazon.com. I was most concerned about reviewers saying it leaked all over the floor the first time using it. Not at all! Smiled like a techy dweeb the entire time I used my new fave cleaner.

Hey now, don't forget about my cutie lil green machine! I've taken it out of the box and kissed it, but haven't used it yet. I have a list of about 10 pillows, pieces of furniture, places in my car and carpet spots that I'll be using this baby on. Can't wait for the stain smackdown to begin!

Ah yes, I must truly be a Mama to be THIS excited about cleaning appliances....

Amanda

***Oh yes, I should probably say that I've received NO compensation, was provided NO tester products or given anything except for a smile ole fat smile for this post...it was all me baby.***

VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :)

Real Simple New Uses for Old Things...Vintage Dutch Girl Style

Old Thing: Skooshy, much loved pink dolly.
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New Use: Toddler neck support travel pillow system.
Directions: Fold in half, shove between toddler's head and side of carseat. Perfecto!

Old Thing: Iphone/Ipod Charger

New Use: Mommy refocusing (via distraction elimination) tool.
Directions: Leave scissors and charger in a room with a 4 yr old.

Old Thing: Chip Clip

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New Use: Burrito Stabilization aid.
Directions: Open clip, attach to end of leaky burrito.

Old Thing: Thick Parmesan Cheese Ceasar salad garnish.

New Use: Dinner Entertainment....FREE!
Directions: Open mouth, insert cheese. Laugh.

Old Thing: Feminine Hygienic Liner.
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New Use: 4 yr old foot bandaids!
Directions: Leave 4 yr old unattended in bathroom. That's all it takes.

Amanda

Follow VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :) Cause sometimes I post on there. If I feel like it. If I'm bored...because UGH, Pinterest's servers are down again.

Vintage Xbox for Four (and a HALF) year olds...

Being that is was another cold Washington Summer Weather 2011 day, the kiddos were getting bored being stuck inside the house. Again. (and I may have been going slightly bonkers).

Having been introduced to the wonderful world that is video gaming by my boy cousins at a recent family dinner, I hauled out our old school Xbox to show Bubbalu how it's done.

A. When I say old school, I mean it. The date promter started at '01. Which made me giggle. Just think, only 9 more years and it's eligible to be sold as Vintage on etsy!

B. Bubbalu is a better Rallysport driver than I am. Embarassing. Being showed up by a 4 (and a HALF! he always insists) year old. Huh, all those days growing up playing Wolfenstein on our PC didn't teach me anything!?

C. Should I teach him DanceDance Revolution? That'd be some serious hilarity. And an effective energy burner....hmmm. (...Runs off to find DDR dance mat....).

D. I need to unearth some older Xbox kids games. Anyone willing to donate some old castoff games to the "Amanda needs to clean her house and keep her sanity" fund?

Happy gaming!

Amanda

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The Poo Whisperer...

My Hubby called me a poo whisperer this morning.

Before I'd even finished my 4 cup pot of coffee.

I can't wait to add it to my resume. If I ever do go back to being employed outside our messy home I wonder if under special talents and skills POO WHISPERER will net me a job.

Granted, I'm an RN, so poo DOES come with the job. Especially in Labor and Delivery.

...From the BABIES! Sheesh, where did your mind go?

(Let's just close that side subject, shall we?)

We are freshly back from a family camping trip and my hair still smells like a campfire, despite three shampoo scrubdowns.

On this camping trip my Lil Chick was amazingly, well, productive in the poo department. My Hubby marveled at how quickly I could tell she needed a diaper change.

As in immediately. Or two seconds after if I was lagging a bit.

What can I say? I've got some serious poo detecting skilz.

We are taking a breather on the potty training for a while....mostly because while she can stay dry all stinkin day long, the poo is the problem.

And in my book if it's the poo that's the problem, we are gonna TAKE. A. BREAK.

Cause this Mama is sick n tired of scrubbing poo out of princess underwear. The potty I can deal with, it's no biggie. After all, it IS sterile, right? The poo? Disgustingness.

Also, we are going on another extended camping trip soon and Potty Training + Camping = Stressed out Mama.

I've done potty training while camping before. It didn't end well. We earned the #1 Trashiest Campsite award.

This camping trip is supposed to be fun and relaxing, full of laying in the sunshine, swimming (floating really) in the lake and consuming massive amounts of chocolate.

So while I AM the Poo Whisperer, we are taking an extended potty training break...

Amanda

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Gravity Defying Hair, A Dreamy Home and a Laugh...

No time today for a long blog post because...

I get to meet a new family member today :)

Let's do some link Love:

You need to go over and read a post my friend Tiff wrote over at her blog Still Seeking Sanity.
4 kiddos + a tightly packed Costco bathroom stall = THIS. Enjoy the laugh :)
........................
This Dream House Tour over at House of Turquoise is SO stinkin inspiring and well, dreamy. Meaning, my keyboard has drool on it. It's gorgeous. Check er out.
........................
Yup, I need to get back to sewing. This one would be a great pick. Love Grosgain Fabulous.
........................

oh, and I worked out with my sister late last night (P90X, arms n back, ab ripper). It was pretty late so I just decided to take a shower without washing my hair.

Bout screamed when I looked in the mirror this morning. It defies gravity.

Off to shower and retame my tresses....

Amanda

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Perfect Bran Muffins....and Banana Pound Bread?

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I had a friend and her lovely kiddos over for a quick playdate this morning.

Of course, I forgot to clean up last night's dishes after we got home (we went out to watch Transformers 3 - super cool!) and then proceeded to accidentally sleep in.

Wonderful.

I awoke to shouts of, "Nuh UH! That's MY bread!" What the??

Turns out if Mommy sleeps in...no problemo! Bubbalu and Lil Chick can steal a loaf of bread from the pantry and chow down on however many slices they want. One? Two? Twelve?

However, I thought this was rather convenient as I had a large to-do list that I needed to complete in less than 58 minutes and they took care of one of the most important items. Sweet!

Managed to whip the house sorta into shape (ya know, the normal: dishes, laundry, pick-up junk, hide the weapons, etc).

I decided that I really should try to bake something yummy before they arrived and then remembered that (insert head slap) I had used the rest of the white flour on making banana pound bread.

What's banana pound bread?

It's SO easy. You make it JUST like banana bread, except omit the baking soda. Voila. Banana pound bread.

Anywho, all I had left was oat bran and whole wheat flour...which is better for ya anyways!

Quickly googled bran muffins, threw it together....but then took some artistic license and added a bunch of extra ingredients and different measurements. So I've got a new recipe to share with y'all!

(Ulterior Motive: I won't remember if I don't write it down TODAY. If I don't post this recipe and instead just jot it down on paper, I'll lose it. So really, I just want to forever post this in blog-land so I'll still have it. Thank you little blog. )

Perfect Bran Muffins

2.5 cups whole wheat flour
1.5 cups oat bran
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup corn/vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Combine all dry ingredients. Combine all liquid ingredients. Mix those both together. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake 375* for 18 minutes. Let cool, serve! Makes 24 muffins.

Try em, they're delish. Just enjoy them in moderation. Just sayin. Y'all know what too much fiber does to your digestive system, right? Yup.

Enjoy :)

Amanda

* Totally kidding about the weapons...Sorta
* Banana pound bread? Yeah, well.... let's just say it was an unintentional discovery... ;)

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Broken Mirror to Fake Transom...and a Doubtful TjMaxx Dude...

Awhile back while pursuing the aisles of TjMaxx I came across this:

It was in the clearance aisle....AKA Amanda's Playground.

Don't remember how much. I think $6 ish.

Brought it to the register. Dude looks at me with a "are you some kind of stupid?" look on his face and says, "uh, you DO know it's broken, right?"

I smiled, "yup!"

He raised his eyebrows, sighed and finished ringing up my purchases.

I find it strangely hilarious knowing he will forever wonder about the crazy lady who purchased a broken mirror.

Maybe he will one day come across this post.

While wearing thick work gloves I carefully took the broken mirror out and tossed it.

Spray Prime

Spray Paint

Wipe on glaze mixed with dark brown paint.

Wipe it off

Wipe it on

Wipe it off

....you get the idea....

You end up with a nicely aged finish in the seams and edges. PERFECT.

Check it out, a fake transom above my double sliding glass door:



SO much better than a dingy gold cracked mirror:

Before n After:

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Dear Doubtful TjMaxx Dude,

Didn't see that one coming, didya?

:) Amanda

LAST DAY TO ENTER! Live in the Pacific NW? Love animals? A great family ticket pack for the Pet Expo going on July 8-10 is up for grabs! Ends TOMORROW!

Four Costco Trips...

I believe I counted correctly when I say we went to Costco four times this past week.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

I know.

But when my Sister invites me for a Saturday afternoon Costco run without kiddos I jump at the chance. EVEN if it is on Saturday, which is breaking rule #1 in the "How to Shop at Costco" playbook.

And when my Sis-in law calls me up for a last minute "Hey you still in town? Let's go shopping!" spree I can't say no :)

And when my Mama asks me to pick up some stuff for her I'm going to say "Sure, why not?". (After all, she birthed me and one should be afforded SOME perks for that.)

And when I realize that, despite three prior trips, I have yet to remember toilet paper and to fill the car up with gas....I go back for the fourth time.

Our Costco climate has changed drastically over the past year. See, I live sorta close to the country that resides just north of the U.S. of A. When currency rates flip (US economy = fail) to be in favor of that northern country, the folks who live there come across the border in droves for a super smokin good Costco deal.

Not that I blame em.

I'd do the very same thing.

Anywho, so a routine Costco trip has turned into a free-for-all, grab what you can, avoid sample tables like the plague, dash to get into a checkout lane that is less than 6 customers long, park two parking lots away, 20 car lineup for gas, concession stand chaos and people people people everywhere.

I'm not much of a crowd person.

For me, the enjoyment of a Costco shopping trip has greatly diminished.

However, there is hope. I'm hearing rumors of a new Costco Warehouse that would be located NW of the current location and closer to the border. We'll see.

So, fourth trip in a week, busy busy busy and yep, I've got Bubbalu and Lil Chick with me.

The kiddos were behaving especially, uh, interesting and I was about at the end of my shushing, "stop it right this instant", glaring looks, "do I have to make you get down and walk?", sighs of frustration, "stop hitting your sister", rebuckling the seat belt, "stop bugging your brother", "no screaming!", "you are just fine, stop whining" and "stop asking for that we aren't buying it, no means NO" rope.

Can anyone relate?

Anywho, so I finally make it to the checkout line and wait until it's our turn, playing mediator with the kiddos ("He hit me!", "No I didn't!", "She's poking me!", "Nuh-uh!") the entire time. I rushed to load our stuff onto the conveyor belt thinking GET ME OUTTA HERE ASAP.

Can anyone relate?

An elderly lady and her husband were in line right behind us. She smiled at the kiddos and said, "Honey, You look like you are doing a really good job with those kids".

{ instant stress dissipation }

Seriously Mama's, let's be intentional about building one another up and be generous with encouragement, it makes SUCH a difference....especially on those rough days, right?

Or during weeks with four Costco runs :)

Amanda

Live in the Pacific NW? Love animals? A great family ticket pack for the Pet Expo going on July 8-10 is up for grabs! Ends Wednesday!

Retro Rustic Clean Country Laundry...

Good Morning!

I have never been SO excited in my entire long three decade life to do laundry. Yep, we finally upgraded! No more el cheapo craigslist castoffs! With the amount of yucky dirty laundry I do in a week, it really trumped all other home upgrades/furniture/yardstuff/travel trailers etc.

Seriously.

We ordered our new washer and dryer about 5 days before our long trip to South Carolina...and despite having to try and figure out how to pack the entire house into 4 suitcases, I decided to repaint my laundry room. I had TONS of time.

Because really now, what better time is there to paint your laundry room when you can completely remove your washer and dryer? And what paint lovin lady wouldn't seize the chance for a room redo and to cover up more babypoop colored walls and ceilings? (yep, ceilings too)


Hello, perfect chance. Couldn't say no.

My Mama was kind to help me paint AND did my laundry for me at her house (yup, washed, dried AND folded!) during those 5 days pre-trip when you do so stinkin much laundry just to have all of your regularly worn clothing ready to pack.

I chose my fave new neutral: Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage. (Er...I mean Home Depot's Behr Paint and Primer in one color matched to RH's Silver Sage from a paint sample card.)
(Course, I was not thinking clearly and threw the empty paint can away - doh! I'm praying my friend still has the can so I can get the formula.)

The glorious new washer and dryer arrived 14 days ago....and I am in love. Big RED puffy heart in love :)

I love doing laundry!!!

It's the actual folding and putting away part that's been the problem. I have piles of super clean perfectly steamed laundry all over the house and just don't want to do the unfun part of laundry.

(No this is not a local casting call for dirty laundry. And before I get baskets of laundry on my porch with little notes that say "wash me!" let me say something here. All laundry that isn't from my own family...or has not received the laundry blessing from the laundress will be taken to the backyard and torched. Bless your heart.)

I'm still working on the decor/organization in my walk-thru laundry room. I'm hoping to convince my hubby that installing a built in side shelf, high wide plank beadboard, a sitting bench with shoe cubbies and a coat rack with shelf would be an exciting early summer project. Jury's out on that one.

I'm hoping for lots of galvanized metal, pops of red and aqua, some worn edges. I'll call it retro rustic clean country.

Now if you will excuse me, I plan on shirking my laundry folding and putting away to browse inspiration photos on my new fave, Pinterest. Seriously. Get on there. It's way too fun.

Amanda

P.S. The $50 giftcard giveaway for blessing Mama's and Babies is still going on! You have time to enter to win, go HERE.

Of course, FACEBOOK :)

Twitchy Labeling Fingers...

I FINALLY purchased a label maker.

SO. Stinkin. EXCITED.

My handwriting development hit a roadblock in 2nd grade and…well…I hate my handwriting. It’s not purty.

Also? When I crashed into that roadblock way back when I also suffered permanent damage to the organizational section of my brain.

However, despite how organizationally and penmanshipally (yes that is a word) challenged I am I crave order and perfection in my house.

Yep, that's a problem.

I decided to fight my own character and bring some order into my usually disorganized and messy home.

Step #1. Everything Must Have A Place.

Enter the label maker:

Brother P-Touch. Costco. Best price! (Duh)

First, I read the entire informational pamphlet, including what will happen if I drop it into a bucket of water and how to properly dispose of used batteries.

Then, I burned through two full tape cartridges in FOUR DAYS. Yup. Major labeling OCD over here. I barely restrained myself from labeling my children. (FYI, buy a 4 pack of label cartridges at Costco. Seriously. Super duper good deal, best I found.)

Newly Labeled Organized Goodness:

* 4 under bed bins of all things related to wrapping and giving presents
* 2 purged and completely redesigned and reorganized file cabinets (only took me two full days, but whatever)

Gave myself a gold star :)

*Kiddos dresser contents. Really ladies, this is brilliance. Now my hubby will never say "I have NO idea where you keep the kids' shorts/undies/tshirts/swimsuit/socks/pants/hats/jeans!? You'll have to go and get it yourself". See? Brilliance!

(to be fair, Lance is an excellent hubby and daddy and doesn't shy away from helping with the house or kids :)

*Batteries. If you have been around me the past four days I have probably blabbed on and on about my newly compartmentalized and labeled battery organization. And my Asics GT2150's that I found for a smokin' deal at TjMaxx. I am SUCH a nerd:

Inspiration photo found here.

*All TOYS. Goodness gracious it felt good to get toys in bins!


Think they will STAY in bins? Yup, me neither. But ya gotta try, right?

I've got a few other hundred ideas and inspiration photos to attack my home, but I feel like I've made a huge dent.

Next huge project will be the bonus/craft/sewing room. That may take a few MONTHS :) I feel like I've gotta get it organized and running well before my fall/winter/holiday Etsy rush. It will make an already busy and chaotic season a bit less stressful.

Ok, I need MORE ideas! I've got twitchy labeling fingers. What else should I label?

Amanda

P.S. The $50 giftcard giveaway for blessing Mama's and Babies is still going on! You have time to enter to win, go HERE.

Unrecognizable Brown Blobs...for Breakfast. Yum yum!

I was going through all the pictures on my phone and came across this one:



I remember taking this photo because I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the shape was supposed to be. It's a holiday pancake mold, which makes me think it might be a snowman wearing a hat off to the side??!?

Seriously, what is it?

And furthermore, would you REALLY want a pancake shaped like that unrecognizable blog?

"Yeah, um, thanks for the....uh... long brown lumpy shaped blob on my breakfast plate. Super appetizing."

A

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