Iced Coffee!

I am an iced coffee addict.

Eight or so years ago I was working full time as a nurse at the University of Washington Medical Center while my hubby attended Dental school.  Those early mornings for the day shift were never easy for me. I'm what you call a NIGHT PERSON. Through and through.  Doesn't matter if I wake up at 5:15 AM for four years straight (which I did)....I am still groggy, quiet and subdued until 9 AM.  It just IS what is IS.

So, coffee was extremely helpful for those early mornings. During the random hot (for Washington, that is) summer days we roasted in our third story air conditionless apartment...and dreaded opening windows as they would let in not just cooler air but a plume of smoke from the oh so pleasant chain smoking fellow who lived directly under our apartment.

So, hot coffee? Yeah no. I decided to try iced coffee. Problem was, pouring hot brewed coffee over ice is NOT yummy. At all. Add in your necessary creamer and you get something diluted and metallic. No, thank you.

Thanks to the wealth of information on the good ole internet I researched the best way to make iced coffee. I landed on a random professional coffee roasters site that explained the cold brewing process. Um, what? Cold brew?

COLD brewing coffee leaves you with a nice smooth, rice concentrated coffee base that is NOT METALLIC.  It is sweeter and not acidic and tastes the best with some sort of creamerization. Yes, I made that word up.  Also? It's easy peasy!

Apparently there is also now an ice brew coffee method that is growing in popularity where you fill your coffeemaker carafe with ice cubes to let the just brewed hot coffee instantly cool in the carafe as it drips down. However, it is meant to be drunk WITHOUT CREAMER...and that is just a NO GO in my coffee land.  So no ice brewing here!

I have been drinking cold brewed coffee ever since first trying it out 8 years ago.  I usually start cold brewing in the late spring through the fall months as in the winter I need a good morning hot coffee.

Convinced you yet? Let's make some cold brew iced coffee!

Supplies:

•  A pound or so of dark roast coffee - preferably one with sweet tones, NOT acidic or "earthy" tasting. I love Ethiopian Sidamo.
• A large container for soaking, 1.5 - 2 gallon size.  I use dutch tupperware: A leftover 1.5 gallon ice cream container, courtesy of Edaleen dairy works great!  I also use my 2 gallon stock pot - but note: do not use an uncoated metal- it reacts with the coffee and will give it more of an acidic, metallic taste.
• Large Spoon - you know. To stir. I really didn't have to write that I just needed something here to italicize.
• Coffee pot with metal mesh strainer. A paper cone filter will work it just takes forevah and a day to strain the coffee.
• 24 hours. Yep, TIME is on your side my friend.

Determine your coffee to water ratio:

• 1 lb coffee to 2 gallons (8 quarts) water

• 1/2 lb coffee to 1 gallon (4 qts) water

• 11-12 oz coffee (common bagged amount) to 1.5 gallons (6 qts) water

 Dump your coffee into your container and fill it with water according to your ratio.

Yep, make sure all the coffee ground get wet.

Cover it and yes, wait for 24 hours!  Stir it every few hours as able but for the most part just leave it be.

Next up, the magic:

After 24 hours are up, I move my container next to my coffee pot and start carefully (um, yeah, not really) ladling the liquid directly into my coffee filter. It pours through pretty quickly.  When the filter starts looking like the above right pic you need to rinse it out a bit.  I rinse it out about 4 - 5 times during a 1.5 gallon filtering session.

These are the grody leftovers. But don't throw em away! Go put them in your garden...your plants will love you for it! And bonus, your garden smells like a fresh pot of coffee :)

Pour your gold, er, I mean coffee concentrate (which I've also nicknamed "Coffee Sludge") into containers for storage.  I use a drink dispenser to keep it cool in my fridge. Most of my close friends know that lime green topped dispenser very well!

For traveling and gifting, I reuse those ginormous Coffee-mate creamer containers. They work great!

Directions: Fill sad, empty large mouth ball canning jar with ice, cover with coffee sludge and then....creamerize!  It's a beautiful thing really.



Enjoy your home cold brewed iced coffee!!!

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

I've got the BLUES...

I've got a recent fondness (OK, obsession) with the color blue.

This obsession is evident in the silver sage paint in my house (that is really a lighter blue/gray):


(Restoration Hardware Silver Sage, bottom right)

the clothes I wear (currently a teal long sleeved top. You'll thank me for not taking a self portrait of myself right now. Not my best day)....

or the fabrics I choose to purchase for new scarf patterns for VintageDutchGirl Etsy:


(VintageDutchGirl Etsy) Pin It


Yup, They are all BLUE.

I tend to drift towards bluesy green hues that remind me of our sometimes dreary, yet cozy Pacific NW coast and skies:


(Image via Design-Seeds)

Or the brighter aqua hues of a Caribbean ocean:


(Image via Design-Seeds)

They all speak to me differently: Invigorating, restful, peppy, cool, classy, funky, soothing.

Just Remember: Having the blues isn't always a bad thing.

After all, I'm currently sitting in my silver sage painted dining room on a dark red dining chair while wearing my teal shirt....and a big smile.

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

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!

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 :)

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!

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.

A Chance to Bless Others... and a Giveaway!

Want to know what this is all about?

Have a heart for babies and Mamas? And would love a chance to randomly bless those babies and Mamas? Then click over to the Vintage Dutch Girl Giveaway Blog and see what's up!

Amanda

Seriously, go check it out, it's pretty stinkin cool :)

Retro Polka Dot Apron...

I have a THING for the red and teal/aqua color combo....and I have a THING for polka dots....and I have a THING for ruffles...and I have a THING for fabric flowers...and I have a THING for retro inspired clothing.

Put all those together and you get:



Yup! Finally finished my apron that I started back on Sassy Apron Sewing Sister (errr) Day!

I am in love. I may have to wear it non stop for the next few weeks. Praise team Sunday will be interesting. Doesn't really help with the whole, "keep attention off yourself" mantra that I try to repeat when choosing my outfit on those Sundays.

But I can wear it when driving to church!

Now THESE are what I call ruffles:



Fabric flowers? Yes please:



Now, to figure out what to actually COOK for dinner while wearing my sassy retro apron...

A


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#1 Grocery Shopping Rule...BROKEN...

I made the ULTIMATE grocery shopping mistake Saturday night.

Anyone?

Can you guess it?

Yes, I went grocery shopping HUNGRY. And not just hungry but ravenous. Growling stomach and all.

Let me tell you something. Other than Sunday mornings during the congregational prayer, my stomach NEVER growls. Not so Saturday evening. Maybe it was prepping for Sunday morning?

So, I did my shopping and didn't really delve into my psyche enough to realize what I was doing. Because HELLO, I was out at the grocery store kid free! My mind goes crazy fun bonkers when I'm set loose like that. Dangerous I tell ya, Dangerous!

My Sister Becca was at my place when I came home. Bag by bag was unloaded and she. couldn't. stop. laughing.

Why? This is why. I brought home:

4 cartons of ice cream

1 bag of lime tortilla chips

3 jars of queso (just in case we got snowed in)

1 bag of Reeses peanut butter cup bites (in pastel wrappers. Because anything in a pastel wrapper can be marketed as EASTER candy. So dumb)

3 Flavored coffee creamer (Coconut cream my NEW FAVE!)

1 loaf of WHITE bread!? We are a hard core wheat bread only household. SERIOUSLY where was my brain?

Oh yes and 2 cans of extra large (but light!) whipped cream.

Busted. No WONDER she laughed at me.

My only saving grace is that I DID purchase 2 lemons, a can of diced green chiles and some fresh chives. You know, the nutritional equivalent of sucking on some pine cones.

Good thing I have superhuman incredible self discipline to avoid those foods or I'd be in MAJOR trouble...

Amanda

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Changing Lives, One Flat Iron At A Time...

Raise your hand if you own a flat iron/hair straightener.

Raise you other hand if your flat iron has so much baked on hair stylin' crud you are embarrased to call it yours.

Dont'cha just hate it when your hair straightener shreds and damages your hair? Me too. I have a good four years of hair junk built up on it. So much junk that I was shopping for the best deal on CHI flatirons. Cause they are the best...and I have LOVED my Chi. Until the baked on crud started to affect my mental state.

Girlfriends, I'm about to change your life.

I googled every possible way to safely clean your ceramic flatiron.

So far over the past few months I've tried:

* Washcloth with water and scrubbing flat iron while hot. Lots of steam but no crud-clearing.
* Washcloth with hand soap and water- nada
* Washcloth with shampoo and water-mininal help. My fingers cramped up after a 1/2 hour.
* Qtip with rubbing alcohol- nada
* Qtip with non acetone nail polish remover- nada
* Picking off junk with my fingernail - some help but I put a tiny chip in one section of the ceramic plates - Not good. Not recommended.
* Yelling - nada...but I swear that thing smirked at me.
* Smashing again the counter - once again, not recommended

I'm lying in bed trying to fall asleep and I get one of those bright shiny light bulb AHA! moments. Lay in bed, try to ignore the brilliance of the idea and fall asleep. After all, it IS after midnight and the kids will be up poking my eyeballs at 6 AM.

Doesn't work. Mind is whirling.

Finally sneak outta bed and try my idea out.

Schneikees it WORKS! My going on FOUR year old CHI looks brand-spankin NEW. No joke.

(Well, except for that little aforementioned chip I inflicted.)

Any guesses to what I did?

Two words:

MAGIC ERASER.

Thank you, Mr. Clean, for once again bringing your A game to the VintageDutchGirl household. Extremely pleased with eraser performance and will definitely be using again in the near future. Thank you for not damaging my wonderful Chi flat iron in the cleaning process.

Only problem is, it's 1 AM and no one to call and celebrate with. Ah well, that's what a BLOG is for, right?! To take one simple little thing and turn it into a full blown conversation.

Alrighty ladies, get scrubbin those flat-irons! Let me know if it worked for ya!

Off to find warm milk and maybe some soothing, sleep inducing chocolate chip cookies...

A


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*I have been in no way endorsed or compensated for this post by Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Which is too bad, because I'd make an EXCELLENT spokeswoman. I have LOTS to clean*

Features, Makovers and Vacays...

Looky loo who is being featured today over at Blue Cricket Design! Check it out HERE.

I spent forever and a day updated my Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop header, descriptions and pics and such. I'm loving how it turned out.

Here's the bright and shiny new header:

Such an improvement over the previous one.

Don'tcha just love a good makeover? I've been watching 'What Not To Wear' during my lunch breaks (yes, I actually give myself an hour 'lunch break') and never tire of watching what an new outfit, haircut and makeup can do for a person. It's intriguing to me.

Same goes for a home makeover. My Mom in Law is a professional home stager for real estate and some of her before and after pics are AMAZING. Such a huge difference...with sometimes just a different way of arranging furniture and streamlining.

It's also handy when I can ask my MIL to come over and play with furniture arrangments and decor with me. She LOVES it and it's her gift!

OK, my Starbucks bottled Frapp is almost empty, which means I need to go and pack soon. We are heading home tonight from a GREAT weekend getaway to Whistler, BC. Lots of cross country skiing, chick flicks with my sis in law, games, shopping and just fun in general. Bubbalu and Lil Chick stayed home and had a blast with my Mom and Dad. It was so good as a Mommy to get a break!

There was 8 hourish period during the day when I didn't have any clue what time it was. We were skiing and I didn't need to feed anyone, put anyone down for a nap, get someone to preschool, change a dirty diaper, wash dishes or any of the general stuff that Mama's do. I can't tell you how liberating it was not to NEED to know the time. It was a true Mama vacation.

However, I'm missing em something fierce. When I start talking about them non-stop I realize that, yes, I would like to see them very soon.

Tonight, my little ones, Mama's coming home!

A

Skidamarink De Dinky Dink, Skidamarink De Doo Printable....

Who can finish that song with me? Oh yes, growing up in the 80's had its perks. Living close enough to the Canadian border ALSO had its perks. Oh yes, Canadian television!

In case you are curious, the song 'Skidamarink' was the finale song in 1910 for the Broadway Musical "The Echo" but was made popular in the mid-80's by a Canadian childrens program called "The Elephant Show".

The middle of the song features the lyrics:

I love you in the morning and in the afternoon,
I love you in the evening and underneath the moon!

They make me smile.

So I created a printable thinking this will be fun to hang on my wall to make me smile daily. Feel free to use them to help YOU smile too :)

Pin It

Pin It

Just click to enlarge and save the file on your computer. Print it out at Costco and voila! Ubercuteness...

Amanda

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Dorothy and a Swordless Pirate Distracted Me...

We interrupt this Plaid Flannel Party to present you with the following concerns:

-Amanda's been too stinkin busy with cranky high energy kiddos that she doesn't have much free time.

-She also was a single parent all last week and grossly miscalculated the need for R and R after the loooonng days. (R and R is roughly translated as: Watching TV and Eating Cookies.)

-Um, hello, the church Harvest Party is tonight. Yep, TONIGHT. Missed the memo on that one when planning the sad Plaid Flannel Party. So yes, I've been busily trying to fit in outfit creating during my gobs of spare time. I promise I won't send my kids to the party half dressed (maybe).

-I invited some people over for the express purpose to motivate me to clean the house. It worked. And when the cleaning bugs are finally, belatedly biting, I don't ignore them. I let them keep on biting and enjoy the rewards of (finally having) a clean house.That means crafts and blogging go on the back burner. Not my favorite place for them. I prefer my front right super industrial fast boil burner to be loaded up with crafting and blogging and my piddly slow simmer burner to be laden with the housework.

*** INSERT EIGHT HOUR BREAK***

-I'm so scatterbrained and ferklempt I didn't even finish this post. We are now back home from the harvest festival with one tired out Lil Dorothy:



And sadly, my best photo of my swordless pirate:




There was no way on God's green earth that I was going to willfully hand a sharp weapon over to my boy. Not with his track record.

Sad picture, huh? I'll have to wait for all the Grandma's and Aunties to send me better pics of the kiddos when we did the "Look at how cute they are in their costumes!" show-off circuit around town before the harvest festival.

I had a riot making their costumes. SUCH fun. I decided to make many of the pieces adjustable for future hours of dress up playtime

I may have gotten a little carried away with all the costume fun. Dorothy DID wear ruffle butt bloomers in The Wizard of OZ, right?



These bloomers are stinkin cute and rather easyish to make. I think she might need one in every color.

Hmmmm, maybe in PLAID with a tutorial so I can get back to my sad Plaid Flannel Party???

A

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No Longer Pasty Hasty Cabelas Shopping...

Many people asked if I had a major meltdown/hissy fit/freak out session when we found out we missed our flight by one minute.

Nope, not me.

Why? Because I knew that this was in my near future:



So with an uncharacteristically calm manner we waited our seven extra hours in the airport.

My selfless husband recognized his wife's need for a sanity break and watched movies in the condo room while the kids rested/napped while I got to spend a good two to three hours every afternoon by the pool.

Or maybe he was sick of seeing me so pasty and pale. Either way, this woman feels muchly rested and rejuvenated.

Selfless husband also knew we would be paying a visit to the hunter's mecca, Cabelas:



The kidlets and I decided to have a snack (nope, NOT an ostrich burger) while waiting for daddy to finish trying on eighteen pairs of hiking boots. A snack for Mommy mean a nice huge glass bottle of starbucks mocha frapp thankyouverymuch.

If anyone wants to do their early Christmas shopping for me at Cabelas (Hint, MOM AND DAD) here is my short list of approved merchandise:

THIS, with THIS installed in it and THIS attached to it.

See? I'm such a nice daughter I provide easy peasy Christmas shopping lists. Hurry up, if you order now you can get FREE SHIPPING!!!

Yeehaw...

A

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Crafting Feeds My Soul...

The last three weeks in May were crazyness in our house. Bubbalu had a bad reaction to his anti-allergy medication and well....it made him kinda crazy. OK, more than just kinda crazy. Most of you already know how mischievous my Bubbalu can be. He took it to whole new level. Which in turn makes Mama crazy. You know how it goes.

Finally figured out what was going on and my normal mischievous level little Bubbalu is back!

(Big breath.)

I also had coffee with an amazing mentor Mama who said to me , "Amanda, have you been doing any crafting the last few weeks?"

Uh. No.

"Honey, you NEED to be creating. It's what you do for YOU."

Hmmmm.



I'm one of those Just finish your work and THEN you can play kinda people. Worked great when I had, you know, a REAL job. However, when anyone asks me if I'm working I always say, "Why yes, I do work, harder than I've ever worked in my life. I'm a Mom". Problem is, my job IS NEVER DONE. Are you a Mom? Is YOUR job ever done? Nope.

There is always something to be done and I feel guilty indulging in my crafting/sewing/creating time.

But I was unhappy.

So, I made a choice. I chose to leave dishes out, laundry unfolded, papers left on the counter and bathrooms still needing a scrubbing and ran for the craft room.



My mentor Mama was right. Crafting feeds my soul. It always has. I've been gluing, cutting, sewing, crocheting, stitching, painting, drawing or designing my entire life. Just ask my Mom. It drove her crazy at times! Love you Mom. Thanks for putting up with me :)

I picked up my scissors, plugged in the glue gun and turned my sewing machine on. It's been GREAT to be back. I'm working on some super girly, bright, fun, polka dotty and ruffly accessories. They'll be in the Etsy shop soon.

So, what do you do for YOUR me time? Is it crafting and creating like me? Reading a book? Taking a nap? Exercise? Eating? (Oh wait, maybe that's just me. Yep, right next to my sewing machine you will find a red Fiesta Ware ramekin that is always full of Costco's Ambrosia Chocolate chips. You know. Just in case of a chocoholic attack.)

Seriously though, I'm curious what other Mama's do for their ME time.

Spill it...

A

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One Hundred Shades of Happy....

I am one hundred shades of happy right now.

Just found out my Brother and Sister-in-law have just met THEIR NEW DAUGHTER!

In ETHIOPIA.

Yep, they have met the sweet baby girl that they will take home to be theirs. So very exciting, God is SO good. Yep, she is my second Ethiopian niece/nephew. The joy doesn't stop there. We have ANOTHER brother and sister-in-law who are on the waiting list for THEIR baby girl too! Our family is growing by leaps and bounds!

Just finished booking an AWESOME hotel deal (with an indoor heated pool for Mr. Energy to swim in) in a few weeks to go and meet our NEW NIECE.

We will be waiting to welcome her home to her forever family in the airport baggage claim area. Love it. Love it all.

Just scheduled a late morning coffee date with a dear friend where I can squeal and gush all about my NEW NIECE.

God is GOOD...

A

Palm Sunday...

We had a lovely Palm Sunday.

I was singing on praise team with my Mom-In-Law and Bubbalu was scheduled to sing a few songs with all of his fellow preschoolers during the service.

We were right in the middle of a song at the beginning of the service as the kids were being led down the aisles, waving their palm branches with gusto, and being arranged on the front steps of the stage.

I had hoped he wouldn't see me. I figured he would act up if he saw me.

However, he found me.

"MOMMY!!! HI MOMMY!!!" He is standing with his back to the crowd, waving his palm branch at me with the HUGEST grin in this universe on his face.

I know I smiled, and I'm certain I missed a few notes.

He kept looking at me and then got this strange look on his face. I'm thinking he was wondering why I wasn't going to him or acknowledging him.

Then....tears, huge crocodile tears, open mouth...and wailing.

Thankfully his wonderful Little Lambs teacher stepped in and comforted him. Poor kid. Musta though his Mama was completely deserting him.

He managed to go back up and maybe even sang a word to two during their songs. Gotta love little bitty kiddos singing their hearts out...or twirling in their new dresses...or making faces at their parents :)

The kiddos did a great and adorable job (per the usual) and then were dismissed...to do it all over again during the next service.

So next service (while singing) I backed up farther and hid behind my Mother-in-law so Bubbalu wouldn't have a repeat performance. I KNOW there were people in the crowd watching me hide while Bubbalu craned his neck looking for me. I may have distracted one or twenty-two folks. Sorry bout that.

Almost three days later and it still makes me smile to think how happy he was to see me and of his cute little face singing, "Hosanna in the highest!"

Ya know, after the crocodile tears were wiped away.

A

A Chick Update...

Yep, I realize most of my stories are about Bubbalu. Time for a Lil Chicky update!

Lately my Lil Chick has been, uh, SMILING, like this lately:



It cracks me up. Such a ham.

She also has been LOVING her doll cradle...which actually used to be MY doll cradle. My Grandpa K made it for me when I was a little girl. It was in sad shape so I spruced it up a bit and gave it to Lil Chick to use. I thought she'd enjoy putting her dolls (Zoe and Zara) in there. Didn't think she'd want to be in it WITH her dolls. Ah well, makes for a cute photo, right!?

She's been LOVING being outside as much as possible:




And have you heard? This little woman LOVES to eat! She is staying quite tiny though...must have the metabolism of a hummingbird.

After we got home from a walk apparently Mama was too slow in getting dinner on the table:



I LOVE my Lil Chick...

A

Merry Christmas...

A Merry Christmas to you, from our family to yours.

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing!

A

The BIRTHDAY PLAN of 2009...

I've been busy up in the bonus room. Just a quick smattering of projects. I've felt super inspired (yes, AGAIN.) and ready to do some major sewing and creating. Why why WHY do I have to be all inspired on the busiest week and month of the YEAR?

OK, it may not be THAT busy for you. What's on your plate this week? Maybe an office Christmas party, online shopping for those last 3 gifts you can't find and a quick trip to the mall?

This week we have TWO birthday parties. And I'm throwing them. Yep, Bubbalu and Lil Chick both have December birthdays....4 days apart....two weeks before Christmas. In DECEMBER. FOUR days apart. TWO birthdays. TWO weeks before Christmas.

IN DECEMBER.

OK, I'm officially done whining.

Truth is, I love throwing a party. I don't like to keep it simple and blah. When things are simple and blah I feel a bit sad. I LIKE to make parties special and create something unique for them. I also want to make sure my kids don't get the "oh, your birthday is so close to Christmas let's just lump the parties together" and have their birthday overlooked altogether. Problem is, throw two parties that I'd LOVE to have fun with together in one week (*ahem* 4 days apart) and there just isn't enough time to do it all.

Unless, that is, I plan ahead and maybe even create an excel spreadsheet detailing (insert booming loudspeaker echo voice) THE BIRTHDAY PLAN of 2009 complete with scheduled crafting, cake baking, decorating and even a rest time or two thrown in to keep Mama's sanity intact.

Good thing I plan ahead.

Lil Chick turned ONE yesterday. She makes me smile. She makes other people smile. She has dimples when she smiles.

We had a lovely, yet subdued (for me) party. Stay tuned, pictures coming soon.

There will be cake, there will be a tutu, and there will be dimples...

A