Spray Paint Someone's BEHIND And Call It A Day...

This is my favorite fall picture from last year:



I have it up as my computer background, but check out what I've just recently noticed:



Ain't that PRECIOUS.

Enter spray paint feature in Paint program, because we're not cool enough to own Photoshop:



Ahhhh, that's MUCH better. Can I just say, I have never spray painted anyone's...ah...BEHIND before. Felt kinda silly. Now it just looks as if there is a large camouflaged person in my picture. Much less offensive to have as the computer background now. I actually might print and frame it now.

You can't really see it, but I was less than two months away from delivering Lil Chick and only a week or two away from full-time bedrest. I love that one of my favorite pregnancy pics is one where my glorious belly is all but invisible.

You wanna see my other favorite preggo pic?

Brace yourself.

It's actually quite stunning:



And by "stunning" I do mean outlandish.

Happy October! May there be no large behinds in your cute pumpkin patch pictures.

A

Hello, I Am A Dodo Brain...

I made a set of burp cloths and an iron-on onesie applique for a baby shower gift for a friend a few weeks back.

I used a car and truck flannel which turned out quite adorable.

However, I was SUPER busy trying to whip the last stitches in. Sometimes you're too close to the project, ya know?

I couldn't figure out why all of a sudden it just didn't look quite right:



WHY does my 'C.A.R.' letters applique look like 'CPR'???

DOH! (insert head slap)

Guess SOME dodo brain forgot to reverse the 'a' when freehanding it, backwards, on the reverse side of the third peel off layer of see-through webbing stuck to the wrong side of the fabric which needs to be read correctly.

Clear as mud.

No WONDER I messed up.

No worries, I seam ripped that pesky, rebelliant 'a' off the decal and stitched it back on CORRECTLY.



Tina, I'm sure you never really noticed, but the poor little red, green, orange, blue and half of a yellow car are sadly driving around upside down.

I planned it that way. That way when your little guy wears it he can look down and SEE the cars smiling at him and driving right side up.

(wink)

A

Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy Shop is LIVE...

(Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out)

I'm kinda nervous...but I finally did it.

Announcing...

(insert cliche' drumroll)

The opening of the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop:













Feel free to stop on by any ole time...

A

Health Has Returned From Its Vacation...

I was able to give Lil Chick her very last dose of antibiotics this morning and dump the rest down the kitchen sink.

(insert sigh of relief)

Guess what? Her eyes aren't red rimmed and glassy. Her little body is no longer a fever factory. If her appetite is any indication of health, she is H.E.A.L.T.H.Y.

Bubbalu is better as well! I know this because he is being his normal stubborn ornery self.

Last night he said to his dear sweet Auntie Joanie, "You shut your mouth Joanie!"

Of COURSE he was punished. But the little stinker would NOT apologize. More punishment. He still would not apologize. After about a ten minute long time out period he sauntered over to me, his Grandma, and Auntie Joanie and started quietly chanting, "you shut your mouth, you shut your mouth, you shut your mouth" and slowly increasing in decibels until I could hear him.

Yep, he is ALLLLLL better now!

A

p.s. The Customizable Jones Soda Giveaway still going on over at the Vintage Dutch Girl Giveaway Blog! Go and enter to win!

Thanks To Conrad...

Thanks to my Dutch homeboy Chemist Conrad Van Houten, we have had 'eating chocolate' available since 1848. Which is when I started eating it.

At the request of a friend, I have something delicious to share with you.

How can GHIRARDELLI go wrong with any recipe containing chocolate? I mean seriously? They are chocolate experts! Of COURSE they have the best Oatmeal Chocolate Chip recipe I've ever had.

What? You WANT this recipe? You NEED this recipe to complete your fall day of cozily lounging by the fire, sipping coffee, reading something inspiring? You are standing in your kitchen, baking ingredients strewn about the counter, waiting with bated breath for this recipe?

Well OK then. If you really need it that badly, here you go.

Enjoy!

A

A Sneak Peak...

The crafting room has been kept busy.











Etsy shop coming soon.

Stay tuned...

A

Hi Mr. Gym, It's Nice To Be Back...

Oh, hi underused, unappreciated Mr. Gym, it feels SO SO SO good to be back!

Whatddya mean? You don't REMEMBER ME?

Yes, I have a current membership. Really, I do! I workout here all. the. time. Can't you tell by looking at my fabulous bod?

Oh just shut up.

OK, well, I did before the kids got sick. And before I got sick before that...and before my husband was sick before that...

OK, Mr. Gym, maybe you have a point.

But hey, I'm here now, let's just move on.

Whatddya mean my workout ensemble doesn't match? So what? I'm just thrilled that my socks match. So what if I had to take a shower BEFORE working out to shave my legs!? At least I was being considerate.

Mr. Gym, you had better not snicker at me behind my back(side) next time I walk in your front doors.

I'll get you back.

Maybe I won't wipe down the weight machines after using them.

Maybe I'll wear stilettos and run a 5k on your precious treadmill.

Maybe I'll sing my playlist out loud for you to enjoy while I work out.

Either way, I'll get you back.

YES, there will be a next time!

Sheesh.

A

Snot and Spray Paint...

Did you know you can spray paint glass?

Neither did I.

Take two large, have sat in a closet for 9 years because they were used at my wedding, glass vases (URNS really) :


(Whoa, whoa, we're tilting, we're tilting!!!)

And spray paint the snot out of them:


(we're still feeling a bit off kilter!!!)

Ok, there really wasn't ACTUAL SNOT in, on, or around them, but we are a living in snot-land and I feel the need to interject that word as much as I can.

Don't they look MUCH better painted? It took quite a few coats to get every ridge and crease covered...that and the wind blew away 67.4% of my spray paint. Now the neighbors' house has a lovely shade of dark leather brown on one side to match the changing leaves. You are welcome.

Throw some "borrowed" from the parents curly willow tree sticks in, plop it in a corner and call it a day:



Voila. Easy peasy nice and cheesy.

SNOT. Whoops. Sorry about that.

A

p.s. Don't forget to enter the Jones Soda with you own Customized label giveaway over at the Vintage Dutch Girl Giveaway blog!

Customizable Jones Soda Giveaway!!!

Who WOULDN'T want Reindeer Root Beer soda with their face on it!?

Just for fun, we're doing another giveaway! To enter to win, head on over to the Vintage Dutch Girl Giveaway Blog and leave a comment to be entered to win.

* You do NOT have to run a blog to enter. Just click in as anonymous and make sure you tack your first name and email on the bottom of your comment. Enter to win and join the fun!

A

'Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.'

The Message, Philippians 4:6-7

WallyWorld Therapy...

Quite frankly, it's embarrassing how excited I was to go to WallyWorld yesterday afternoon. I may be getting a touch o' cabin syndrome.

Nothing like the promise of inexpensive bleach spray cleaner and a rock bottom butter price to get yer engine going.

That, and the spray paint aisle. I got tingles.

We're going on THREE weeks of sickness for those under three. While I would hate to complain and seem whiny and weak I do think it bears repeating. THREE WEEKS of being sick.

Despite the THREE WEEKS of being sick, there were some good times in good ole Wallyworld. Thankfully, my Mom was along to run Bubbalu interference while I had Lil Chick in the Bjorn.

First we drooled over adorable dresses, leggings and t shirts for Lil Chick. Next up I picked up some needed fabric for Lil Chick's harvest festival outfit. Yes, it was tulle. No, I won't tell you what color. Hopefully I'll get it done in time, because, THREE WEEKS of being sick has severely cut into my crafting/sewing time.

I'd hate to complain and seem whiny and weak.

Then my knight in khaki's and a button down shirt came and collected the kids so Mom and I could have kid-free shopping - woot! Thanks honey.

Before we hit up the chocolate and munchies aisle, I helped Mom pick out some rocking new duds for the guest bedroom.

This gorgeous new bedding:



The teal is stunning. STUNNING I tell ya.

And we totally ditched the blah beige sheets and switched em out for STUNNING teal.

Mom, I vote for a dark chocolate wall behind the bed with the frame (you know, the large ornate gorgeous one you are hiding from me) spray painted TEAL hanging above the bed.

Not any teal...STUNNING teal.

After all, it's just spray paint. Easily changeable, inexpensive and quick results.

That said, I'm ready to add something like this to my Christmas list:



However it may require an air compressor.

Maybe I can convince my khaki's and button down shirt clad knight to put that on HIS list? Especially since we've been dealing with THREE WEEKS of being sick, we really could use a special treat.

I'd hate to complain...

A

Our Sick House Rules...

One must not be required to change out of night-time attire. Zip-up footed jammies are acceptable, nay encouraged.

One must not be required to entertain oneself without the aid of a certain babysitter of the screened variety.

One must not be required to eat healthy, nutritiously rounded meals (as if that's the norm - *snort*!)

One is permitted to drink a smoothie (pronounced "smoovie" by the under 3 crowd) in place of a meal.

One carries an 'unlimited juice consumption for duration of sickness' card.

Our sick "smoovie" recipe of the day:

• One banana
• two scoops chocolate or vanilla ice cream
• 1/4-1/2 cup peanut butter
• chocolate syrup (to taste)
• 1/2 (ish) cup of milk

Blenderize. Serve to sick little one in old plastic restaurant cup with accordion straw that is guaranteed to leak. IMPORTANT!***One MUST taste test at LEAST 1/2 cup or more of "Smoovie" recipe to determine adequate taste mixage and acceptability***

I cannot stress the taste test enough. It is vital for the recipe's success.

A

The Tomato Bandit...

My tomato bandit has struck again. Sure my tomato plants are looking sickly, withered and crispy but they were still producing happy little tomatoes for me to enjoy in my salads.

On the deck I found this:



(Picture me exhaling loudly in frustration)

Then I looked up and saw this:



(Picture me AGAIN exhaling loudly in frustration)

Well Bubbalu, I hope you enjoyed your throwing practice. With all that repetitive throwing motion, I'm wondering if you might have yourself a little case of tomato elbow.

Serves you right...

A

Happy Fall...

Happy Fall.



I worked out in the yard with the hubby today. Despite wearing a sweatshirt and...uh...glistening from my elbow grease expenditure, I was chilled.

Fall is here.

Have YOU decorated for the season yet?

Take one boring, inexpensive grapevine wreath:



And add (stick em in, glue gun em in, wire em in) a bunch of fall-ish berries, sticks, floral picks, whathaveyou. Then HANG it UP.

Me? I had a TON of red berry sprays that I yanked out of a 75 cent garage sale wreath. And yes, I DID spray paint half of them orange. Cause the season demands some ORANGE. Also threw some leftover sticks in there because this girl loves her some curly willow:



Fall is here. Let the apple cider consumption, harvest candle flickering, cozy blanket snuggling and fireplace crackling commence...

A

Find more fall projects at:

Apples And A Chick...

Thanks to my parents and their overproducing trees I have a few apples to create yummy things with.


Mommy, can I eat this one? I think it likes me.

A few, meaning this bucket is about 10% of the total amount of apples currently in my garage. Lil Chick was busy helping me take care of the abundance. She's been kneeling like this for a few weeks now. Seeing her little toes peeking out of her leggings always makes me smile.


Uh Mommy, I see a fruit fly metropolis. It's starting to worry me.

I tell ya, I'd better get peeling, coring and a' cookin some applesauce.

My two new motto's:

1. Sand, Prime and Spray Paint
2. Peel & core, cook and freeze.
   

Or maybe,

1. Annoy Husband by Taking Up His Side of Garage With Projects
   
2. Start A Fruit Fly Infestation Worthy Of Notoriety

You choose. Either way, they're all true!

By the way, to make applesauce:

Peel, core and slice many many many apples.

Cook over med heat with about an 1/8th cup of water. Stir frequently. Soon (20 - 30 minutes) it all turns to yummy mush and smells divine.

That's IT!

OK OK OK, you can add cinnamon and sugar, but I prefer it plain. Freeze in Dutch Tupperware (large yogurt, sour cream and frozen whipped cream containers) to use throughout the year.

YUM.

Happy October, y'all...

A