On Having My Parenting Skills Judged...

As a Mother I am judged every time I leave our house. Especially being that I have two extremely busy, inquisitive, strong-willed, extrovert children who are not in the least shy.

You've seen the look: Pursed lips, furrowed brow, sidelong glances.

My heart rate goes up and my palms sweat as I valiantly try to quickly and quietly (er, not TOO quietly) make my children appear like little angelic offspring. I care way too much what others think.

My kiddos were running around like uncontrollable banshees in our local thrift store yesterday morning. As I was struggling to corral them an older woman came up to me and said, "You are a great Mom. You are doing a GREAT job." To have that little bit of mercy shown during a particularly trying Mommy moment was a ray of sunshine through the storm clouds.

Fighting the demons in our heads that whisper "You are failing as a Mother, you aren't doing enough, you are worthless" is a monumental task. Only with Jesus.

Lord, bind those demons, shackle their powers. Have mercy on all of us today. Let all of us struggling Mama's be a light that shines for YOU through to our children.

Let the importance of what YOU think of us as Mothers take precedence in our thoughts.

Not what strangers think of us.
Not what our "friends" think of us.
Not what our neighbors think of us.
Not what our relatives think of us.
Not what our Facebook friends think of us.
Not what other parents think of us.
Not what our community thinks of us.

Nothing matters but to please YOU Lord. Help us be Godly Mothers today. Be our ray of sunshine through the stormy skies of Motherhood so we can shine Your love and grace on our children.

Amanda

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


***Get more electrifying information and shockworthy news at the VintageDutchGirl Facebook page found HERE***


*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*

Frozen Pink Pants...

It's been super rainy and dreary here. No snow for us.

I can't imagine what would happen if this much rain would have been SNOW. We'd be buried. It would be AWESOME. Lots of tomato soup and hot chocolate, reading by the fireplace, losing Lil Chick in the drifts and making a 14 foot tall snowman. Or snowlady. We're an equal opportunity snowperson building household.

The kiddos have been braving the drizzle and playing outside. Of course, I strip em down to their skivies out on the porch before allowing them reentrance into the house.

Too bad I forgot about Lil Chick's pink fleece pants out there. Fast forward a few days and some cold weather and you have pink fleece pants FROZEN to the deck. SO charming.

Next I left their shoes out. Once again, drenched in rain then FROZEN to the deck. Good thing I buy el cheapo shoes.

So much for the predicted horrendously snowy and freezing winter. Meh.

As for the rest of you who are buried in snowdrifts, what do you do to stay warm? Tomato soup and hot chocolate like we do? Fess us, I KNOW some of you are wearing a snuggie right now!

Spill it...

A

Vintage Dutch Girl on Facebook

*** Didja know there is a Vintage DutchGirl Facebook page?! Coupon Codes for the Etsy shop, random postings and new posts in your feed. Don't be shy, join the party...

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


Click HERE to become a VintageDutchGirl Facebook fan and receive links to new posts in your newsfeed***

Sweet As Sugar...

Quick, Mama's on the phone! She won't hear me sneak a treat!!!



Yup, the sneaked treat of choice is powdered sugar.

Mama said I shouldn't take this saying literally:

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice,
That's what Little Girls are Made
Of!

***Edited to Add****





Uh, turned my back for 14 seconds and found her like this:





That's right, putting away butterscotch chips like a professional.

Goodness gracious...

A

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

** Click HERE to follow Vintage Dutch Girl on Facebook and get new posts in your feed **

Iphone Oops

I love how my iphone automatically finished my words and sentences and even fixes my spelling mistakes! SO stinkin handy.

However, if you are writing to thank another blogger for a link and say, "Hey, thanks for the linky love"

That is NOT what gets sent. Feel free to use your imagination.

A

Ethical Parenting with Princess Frostine...

Remember playing the game Candy Land as a kid?

Looked a little like this:



Well, I finally taught Bubbalu how to play a few nights ago.

OH. MY. LANDS.

It was the longest lasting Candy Land game ever recorded on God's green earth.

We went through the HUGE stack of cards (pretty certain Hasbro has added 547 cards to the game's newest edition) twice before I started "helping" him along a bit. I'd already won and was reveling in Princess Frostine's candy castle but in the interest of teaching sportsmanship I decided not to get up and do my "I BEAT you, I am the KING OF ALL!!" shimmy. Didn't think it would set the right example.

Fess us, do you "help" your kiddos along when playing games? How bout so you can WIN???

A

***Click HERE to follow VintageDutchGirl on facebook and get new post links in your feed***

Tweets of Monkeys and Queso...

Yup. Finally caved.

Even flopping and floundering around as a newly hatched lil twittery bird, you are invited to join in and follow me. You'll enjoy me chattering about skinny monkeys, the nutritional benefits of consuming queso and other equally electrifying topics that will most assuredly stimulate scholarly dialogue.

You know......about moneys and queso.

Huh, maybe the monkeys need to EAT some queso?

Told ya it'd be ELECTIFYING. Convincing, ain't it?

I know what you're thinking, "You had me at Queso".

Help a lady out and leave me some hint/tips in the comments cause this newly hatched lil twitter chick has no idea what she's doing...

A

I USED To Have A Job...

Back when I used to have a job (that gave me things like checks that I could cash for money and self-confidence that I was an educated and appreciated member of the labor & delivery world) I would work three twelve hour shifts three days in a row. 36 hours.

With a half an hour lunch break (often eaten while staring at fetal monitors) that makes it 12.5 hour shifts so that makes 37.5. Oh wait, don't forget you need to get their early to park, walk in, change into scrubs, report to the floor and be good to go by 7. That makes a respectable 40 hours.

WHY does that matter? It doesn't. I'm just rambling.

I always took a day to "recover" after those tiring three 12 hour shifts in row. After that recovery day I was up and running again, back to normal and ready to attack life.

This December my Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop went bonkers. In a bonkery GOOD way :) Turns out people LIKE infinity scarves, and especially plaid and fleece ones:

Purple Buffalo, Brown Plaid, Red Plaid, Teal Plaid

I must admit, I'm partial to them too. If you were one of the reasons I was busy filling orders, THANK YOU for shopping my Etsy shop.

I had a superdupercrazybusy month. The Etsy wonderfulness, my two beautiful children turned 2 and 4 and also there was this little thing called CHRISTMAS! Think: seven family parties in four days. Yowza.

I'm a bit worn out. However, I've been taking a recovery-month-of-sorts and can sense the normal returning.

I've got a bunch of sewing ideas, decor ideas, furniture makeovers, upholstery redoing (*Ahem* learning) and then normal jib jabbing coming up this year.

Stay tuned my lovely readers!

A

P.S. For all you delightful lovelies, I have decided to have an indefinitely active Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop coupon code for 15% off all orders. Cause you are delightful. AND lovely. Your 15% off coupon code is: FOLLOWLOVE15 . Happy Shopping!

I'm BACK...Jiggity Jig!

Egads December was one stinkin crazy month!

I won't try boring you all with writing out in detail all that commenced in December 2010...instead I'll bore you all with giving you pictures.

Skadoosh! Here we go:

My itty bitty baby turned TWO. To celebrate we made her some mini cupcakes with pink frosting:


Um, I got more powdered sugar on the floor, counter and in my hair than in the mixing bowl. The Birthday Girl was frightened by the sound of the EVIL, MONSTER MIXER. Sheesh. At one point she laid her head down and sobbed. Drama queen. Bubbalu is...well... he just does that a lot.

Bubbalu (who also turned FOUR in December) was in our church's Christmas Program. Yes this is blurry:


But it's HUGE I tell ya. See that little boy? Here, let me point him out to you:


Yes, that one. He is actually ON the risers during the Christmas program! That's a first for our household. Pretty sure the Sunday School teachers were on to him and boxed him in on all sides with compliant, obedient children who wouldn't let him escape. He DID do some pretty intense head and upper body dancing but BY GOLLY he was ON the risers!

At the invitation of our Bro and Sis-in-law we dragged out rears off the couch and ran the jingle bell run. Yes, I actually ran it. Yes, it hurt. Turns out taking a four month leave-of-absence from running leaves you with zero lung capacity and shriveled, uncooperative muscles. Who knew!? Good thing I had a superb running coach that sweetly and kindly made me run the whole thing:


Isn't she cute? Yes, I'm wearing a Santa hat. Stop laughing.

The kiddos came along for the running ride and Uncle Shane and Daddy traded pushing our "city on wheels". Of course, I had to Christmasify the stroller too:


Yes, Bubbalu is wearing green light-up antlers and Lil Chick is masquerading as the tiniest Santa you've ever seen. You can't see it but their stockings are hanging from the handles in the back. Just wait til next year. We have HUGE plans. SUPER festive.

Had to share this one:


I LOVE Lil Chick's pink hat. She's giving Grandpa a nose Eskimo kiss!

So, didja get what you wanted from Santa? NO?
That's too bad, all (S)he has left is scrambled eggs:


Hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our King!

A

P.S. For all you delightful lovelies, I have decided to have an indefinitely active Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop coupon code for 15% off all orders. Cause you are delightful. AND lovely. Your 15% off coupon code is: FOLLOWLOVE15 Happy Shopping!