Collage Collection....

Sandy beaches, sailboats, lobster shacks, snappy casual...Coastal Americana:

TL Anchor
TR Red Stripe
BL Teal/Red Trio
BR Sea Blue

Classic patterns. Understated elegance. Timeless style:

TL White Plaid
TR Zebra
BL Ticking Trio
BR Lace

Pretty much sums up a Pacific North West Winter, Spring and Fall:

TL Charcoal
TR Heather
BL Lavender
BR Plaid

We'll call this next set:

Go BRIGHT or go home...

TL Sassy Trio
TR Lawn
BL Fuchsia Leaves
BR Rufflyness

Amanda

Yuppers, I'm on Facebook. You to? C'mon over!

Tank Top Sassification Inspiration...

I have three brand new (tags still on!) ribbed tank tops waiting for my time and some sassification inspiration. They are boring and bland, just a plain heather gray, black and navy. I want to just give em a little style and interest oomph...just a notch above humdrum.

We are still setting records of temperature lows and rainfall here in the Pacific NW, but I need some sort of (looking forward to) sunny weather project. So hopefully that means I can complete a few of these by the time sunny weather arrives.

These cascading ruffle embellishments are everywhere. I'm liking the tone-on-tone look:


(Charlotte Russe)

Yes, I realize this one isn't a tank top, it's a tankini swimsuit top. Cute, huh? I'm loving the idea of an off-center knotted sash that helps cinch the smallest part of the ribcage to produce the hourglass effect:


(J. Crew)

Simple rows of casual eyelet lace let this ordinary tank become more delicate and feminine. Perfect for layering:


(J. Crew)

Simple rows of elastic thread detail give this tank a flattering pseudo v-neck:


(Anthropologie)

Lastly, my fave! Just add a simple patterned bow tie to ramp up the style rating of your fave summer tank top:


(Modcloth)

Now, I just need to find a way to entertain my 2 and 4 yr old for hours on end while I play with my sewing stuff. Hmmmm, any ideas?

Hope it's sunny wherever you are!

Amanda

Yuppers, VintageDutchGirl IS on Facebook!

For My Daddy Picks...

Shhhhh. Don't tell my Papa.

'For My Daddy' by VintageDutchGirl

Gifts my Daddy would love and appreciate for Father's Day...

Washington Plyboo Cutting Bo... AHeirloom $40.00	Circuit Board Tie - Metallic... ScatterbrainTi... $30.00	BIKES Letterpress Art Print 1canoe2 $15.00
Geolog Mini Wood Grain Noteb... CampfireChic $5.50	Cool Mint Dark Chocolate Tru... KianaChocolate... $12.00	MAGNET BOLT Micro Cache Wate... CacheCreations $7.99
Scales of Justice beautifull... collageOrama $6.99	Hiker Symbol - Button Pin Ba... theangryrobot $1.50	Happy Camper Pillow - green chickabeestudi... $10.00
Leather iPhone, Droid, Cell ... TinderBloom $27.00	Mt. Baker 3 folded greeting ... dwinjames $7.95	Wild Thing Set evesimone $24.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Yellow & Teal Anthro...

All images Anthropologie

A

Vintage Dutch Girl on Facebook

A Perfect "I'm A Mommy" Swimsuit...with SASS...

Last week I broke an 18 year run and purchased a one piece swimsuit.

Don't get me wrong.

It's not yo mamma's average tank.

It's got some SASS:



I needed a Mommy-suit. You know, a swimsuit that I can wear while performing a herculean life-saving lunge towards my non life vested two year old who is tap dancing at the edge of the 12 foot deep pool and not worrying that lady parts are falling out of place. This is not your "lay out and get as many parts of your body nicely bronzed as possible" suit. This swimswuit needs to FUNCTION folks. It has a JOB.

Job Definition: Let Mommy be attentive to progeny while being appropriately covered.

But I want to look cute.

Remember the Retro swimsuit post from Feb 2010? NO? Ok, read it in full here.

I am a proud new owner of the Jantzen Vamp swimsuit. AWESOME, flattering Mommy suit. Also, very pleased to report that I found it at a great price at our local TJmaxx. About 1/4 of current new prices. (I got a Dutch shopping high!)

I also found this TRULY retro nautical inspired vintage swimsuit/dress that I listed for sale in my Etsy:



It makes me think of beach diva models that were completely covered up but still maintained their femininity. These retro-inspired suits are a welcome silhouette and style in a world where swim suits seem to be getting teenier and having bare skin showing is celebrated.

No, I'm not saying bikinis are evil. I like and own bikinis too, I just don't like inappropriate cuts and styles that are risque.

Goodness gracious I sound prudish! So be it.

OK, off the soapbox now.

So, do you have your swimsuit for the summer season picked out? Do tell:

A

VintageDutchGirl on Facebook.

#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

***Facebook + Vintage Dutch Girl = Something Uber Awesome ***

Mr. Sketch....(yummmm)

Favorite new Costco.com find!

I think I need these:



Tell me I'm not the only one who loved these!?!? (and maybe tasted them a time or two)

A

BACK. IN. STOCK...

SO very excited to have the popular, previously sold out, brown and tan woven plaid infinity scarf BACK IN STOCK:



This scarf was featured in an Etsy Finds Email for gift ideas for men or women and was completely sold out (including backstock!) within three hours of the email being sent out.



With the many many requests of "Are you going to have this scarf back in stock?" still in my convo inbox I was giddy to find more of this FAB fabric today.



I also scored these four previously sold out scarf fabrics! Wahoo, BACK. IN. STOCK.

Large square lumberjack plaid:


Multicolored Argyle flannel:


And multicolored Argyle print on a chocolate brown fleece:


And the fun Sherbet Plaid fleece:


Oh yes, my shopping cart was jammed so full of bolts of fabric I couldn't see over it...and nearly knocked down a few diplays on the trek to the cutting counter. However, it worth the strange looks and raised eyebrows!

Does anyone like Polka dots? Or Houndstooth? How bout versatile black and white? Stay tuned for more springweight infinity loop scarves coming soon...

A

***SERIOUSLY? New posts in my Facebook news feed? That's R.A.D.... A Really Awesome Discovery ***

Jewel Tones...

As a very very dark brunette, my best complimentary colors are those in saturated shades. No light peach for me.

I was browsing online (yes, again. Anything to avoid laundry) and found a few SERIOUSLY drool worthy jewel toned items.

Not a big shock, but I love this deep teal. A great outfit base that you can add funky jewelry, patterned shoes or a sassy cardi or scarf and good to go. I'm thinking tall brown cowboy-esque heeled boots and a wide brown belt - a sexy YEEHAW!!! :

(Modcloth)

A. Dorable and great for those of us are pear shaped. Just needs red high heels:

Yes, you heard what I said. Red and purple? Uh-huh. Be daring.
(Modcloth. Again)

This piece doesn't need an intro:

(Of course, Modcloth)

And lastly, these made me gasp. Out loud. Guess that would be GOL. Yep, I'd wear these sassy red boots to Church, wouldn't you?:

(You should know by now where to find these)

Drooling yet? I am. Cause I can't justify $218.99 on one pair of boots. Y'all know how cheap and thrifty I am. But DANG those boots are cute.

Amanda

***Say WHAT? New posts added to my Facebook activity feed? Shut the front door! ***

Nautical Stripes...

NY Fashion Week showed Nautical inspired wear is back! I LOVE this type of clothing. Simple, clean cut lines, casual yet preppy dresses, All American colors (Red White and Blue!), and STRIPES. I LOVE me some STRIPES. However, you and I both know how stripes can look on a person.

WIDE horizontal stripes across a (*Ahem*Postpartum x2) belly? Forget it.
TINY horizontal stripes?? A bit better.
Vertical stripes? Acceptable.
Cleverly placed slimming asymmetrical stripes? AWESOME! I would classify it as the optimal clothing optical illusion.

Stripe Example #1:


Hello slenderization! The angles will accent your lower ribcage (smallest part of the torso) and the layers across the (*Ahem*Postpartum x2) belly are pure disguising brilliance. Just add cute jeans, a pop of color in accessories, flower pins, or shoes and good to go.

Example #2:

Tiny ticking-esque vertical stripes? Winner! I don't know about you but I LOVE the bow....which makes this skirt: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

Example #3:


As the national spokewoman for Females Who Are Pear Shaped (FWAPS!), I heartily recommend this dress. Emphasize the upper twins, de-emphasize the lower twins. YouknowwhatImean.

Example #4:


Same logic as #3. Hello comfortable. Summer chic anyone?

Not on my recommendations list (Horizontal stripes on small fitted shorts? NO) but I have just one question:



Why do her ta-ta's have wings?

Happy stripes shopping!

Amanda

(All clothing from Modcloth.com)

***New blog posts in your facebook feed? Awesomeness.***

Don't Assume ANYTHING. It Makes An......

First of all, you need to understand some things about me.

1. I don't pay full price. On anything.

2. I don't like to spend money on kiddos clothing.

3. I'd MUCH rather make Lil Chick a dress instead of spending $$ on one.

So, now that you know those few tidbits, I can continue.

OK, so this Mama had a major "I'm overwhelmed and underappreciated" freak out moment Sunday night...which was promtply addressed and rectified with a Mama only shopping trip Monday afternoon and evening.

It was GLORIOUS! Not to just push a shopping cart without being kicked in the stomach by a 4 yr old but to not have to keep track of two littles. Muchly rejuvinating!

Anywho, so I'm a shoppin and I see this adorable dress at Old Navy that would look superduper cute on Lil Chick:




Of course, the first thing I thought was, "hey, I could make something JUST like this with my extra pink tulle and her tshirt I have at home" but I decided to just go ahead and splurge.

It was full price.

There were NO coupons.

I bought it anyways. I was SO excited!

And sure enough, it looked ADORABLE on her! She twirled and smiled saying, "I pretty I pretty!" (seriously, WHERE do these little girls learn this stuff? I sure didn't teach her to do that)

And it stayed cute the entire 15 hours we owned it.

This is what it looks like now:



Every single arrow points to a splotch of dried on nail polish in hues of dark blue, red and pink. I didn't even bother pointing out all the clear nail polish. It was EVERYWHERE....believe me, the entire bottle was used up.

Oh yes, they didn't just ruin a brand new dress, they also did this:


(sorry for the blurryness....that woman never sits still)

(Looks awash in guilt, huh? Completely unrepentant.)

What you can't see is that Lil Chick is wearing FOUNDATION. Oh yes, my two year old is wearing a full layer of base makeup. Apparently Bubbalu has watched me get ready a few too many times. He's taking notes and practicing on Lil Chick.

I was less than gentle as I scrubbed the polish off with remover....and then had to quickly do a full body shower scrubdown to get the polish remover off their delicate skin.

Whattya know, we only had lukewarm coldish water today! ;)

They are BOTH currently napping...it's a first of Febuary miracle!

What ran through my mind not three hours ago, "huh, I haven't blogged in awhile, what the world am I going to write about???"

Ask and you shall receive...

A


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