Parenting a Spark Plug...

Some days I fail as a parent.

As least I feel like I've failed.

Yes, the kiddos may have been fed, clothed and kept out of general danger, but their other needs may have been left by the wayside.

You know, teaching them the fruits of the spirit like PEACE. PATIENCE. KINDNESS. SELF CONTROL. GENTLENESS. Patience. Patience. Patience. Pat - ok you get the idea.

I've had MANY of those days lately. Survival days. Struggling to provide those basic needs of a human, but ignoring many of those other, ya know, things. Let's just say our strong-willed child is once again trying valiantly to become ruler of the family.

God made him this way. God blessed him an unusually firm character, a drive and determination and spirit of fortitude that will one day become the very thing that helps see him through anything he sets his mind to accomplish.

He is a firework. A spark plug, if you will. Small package, lively zippy personality, huge potential.

Today I'm praying for patience, guidance and for a spirit of gratitude for the gift this wondrous child has been to us. For what character development parenting him has produced in ME.

Cause sometimes He needs to tear me down with whatever means necessary to wake me up again.

God knows what HE is doing. Imagine that.

Amanda

New Infinity Scarf Patterns...

Ready to start your Christmas shopping?! What? Don't you want to be reminded that it's only FOUR months away? Shop early and stop stressing.

Didja know? I am able to ship orders directly to a gift recipient with a small note included. Handy, right? Eliminates the middle man...that'd be YOU.

Brand new fabrics available in the shop right NOW:Pin It
Nautical Navy Narrow Striped Infinity Scarf

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Classic Black and White Cheetah Flannel


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Purple and Pink Lightweight Madras Plaid

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Silky Zebra Print

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Autumn Flora Print Narrow Infinity Scarf

Amanda

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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

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Aqua Raspberry Containers...

My hubby bought a flat of local raspberries a week ago. They were SUPER delicious...of course! I live in a county that provides MORE THAN 65% of Raspberries in the United States. They know what they're doing here.

Anywho, the delicious deep red berries came in these cutie aqua containers...and due to my fondness of all things aqua and my inner Dutch, I can't bring myself to toss em:
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There MUST be a way to reuse these decorationally! Or, organizationally! (yeah, those are words).

Two found a home in my baking utensil drawer holding all those broken but needed measuring spoons. It's nice not to have them rioting in there every time I open or close the drawer.

I'm trying to dream up other ways to use em, maybe as clutter holders in my junk drawers. Or jewelry holders in my bathroom.


They make me smile. Go buy some raspberries. They are in season NOW :)

Amanda

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Framed Pink Lemonade Sunshinyness...

I'll frame just about anything.

I want it to be cute, seasonally appropriate and low cost...or even better, FREE. Cause I like free.

I pick up picture frames (glass and mat or no) at our local thrift shop a few times a month. So, that means I usually have a large stash of frames just waiting for their turn with the spray paint. Unlike the rest of the nation, it's been super rainy here this "summer" so I've not had many chances to be outside spray painting things. So sad.

However, I did manage to get one frame spray painted a nice sunny yellow. Insert a 4X6 Costco print of this summerific Pink Lemonade Recipe free printable (from Funkytime). Staple a length of knotted fabric to the back as a hanger and hang it up.Pin It

Well hello bit o summer, nice to meet you! Yes, you ARE making it seem more sunshiney in my house. And making me thirsty. For purty pink lemonade in a glass with a sugar coated rim.

Nope, it wasn't free, but does under $1.00 count as cheap n thrifty? Yup, think so.

I just love the Insta-summer-art.

OK, not instant. It took me a good month to finish this project. Because I can be extremely forgetful about a project until my hubby gives me an "um, hello, what is this yellow frame doing just sitting on a pile of books in the garage?" look. Then my memory miraculously returns.

Happy Summer y'all..

Amanda

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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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Sixteen Hour Ice Cream Headache...

It's amazing how much a simple familiar smell or taste can immediately take me back to my childhood.

Yesterday we finally had some summer. According to the University of Washington, we have had a TOTAL of 78 minutes of weather above 80* this "summer".

Nice to know my whining was legit.

But hey, say it was pushing top 90's here we'd all be complaining it was TOO hot. Yup, no air conditioning (generally) in Washington! We'd be fanning our faces and worrying about the status of our tomato plants (mine is doing EXCELLENT this year -woot!).

I am fully aware the rest of the nation is suffering from a huge heat blast. Feel free to crash Seattle for awhile, I'm certain it will be refreshingly cool. If you do, hit up University Village, grab a mocha from Starbucks and enjoy the shopping.

Yesterday felt GREAT. It hit a whopping 71 and the entire west coast of Washington dropped their normal days plans and ran outside for some Vitamin D rejuvenation.

I was out and about running errands and hit up Dairy Queen for some ice cream cones for the kiddos. Of course, if Bubbalu or Lil Chick saw any drips starting from their melting ice cream they freaked out yelling, "Mama! Quick! Fix my ice cream before it falls!".

Mama HAD to step in and "fix" the problems :)



It surprised me when I had my first taste of that plain vanilla ice cream.

I said out loud, "Well, that's the taste of my childhood summers". My kiddos looked at me strangely, but hey, they do that everyday.



The kiddos loved their ice cream (of course) and so did Mama :)

I am currently sitting on the couch debating with Bubbalu about the length of time one can truly complain about an ice cream headache in order to qualify for a sick day.

Oy...

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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Ballerina Batwoman Yeti...

This girl is trouble:

Especially while wearing her Ballerina Batwoman Yeti outfit.

Gotta get me one of those...

A

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 :)
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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.
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Yup, I need to get back to sewing. This one would be a great pick. Love Grosgain Fabulous.
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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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Pet Expo Winner...

Was it you? Go check it out here.

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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