At Least I Can Cross "Eat Some Chocolate" Off My List...

Things I should be doing instead of trying to nap in Bubbalu's bed while he pretends to rest with me:

- Put the folded, then un-folded by Lil Chick, then refolded by Mama laundry piles of clothes away.

- Unload and reload the dishwasher. Pretty sure I have another complete load of dishes on the counter.

- Put my makeup on and do my hair. It IS 3:30 in the afternoon. You'd think by now I'd have gotten my war paint on and tamed my tresses for the day. After all, I don't want to scare anybody if they come to my door.

- Get something ready for dinner since we ARE having our bro and sis in law over. However, they are relaxed and unpretentious. Spaghetti it will be.

- Change out of my morning walk clothing. Because it IS 3:30 in the afternoon.

- Taking the recycle out from under the sink and bringing it out to the garage. ( So am I the only one who shoves and wedges the recycle stuff in the recycle carton located under the sink until the sink is about to pop from it's place and get stuck into the ceiling? The next person to open the cupboard gets plastic tubs, newspaper ads and glass jars spewed at them. Then, when I can't fit any more under there I start piling it on the counter. Why why WHY can't I just take it the extra twenty or so more odd steps out to the garage? Because I'm a dork, that's why.)

- Start the NEXT round of laundry. It never ends.

- Put the Ambrosia 10lb Chocolate chip bag away. Ya know, hide the evidence.

- Vacuum. Either that, or get a dog specifically trained to eat all of Lil Chick's mealtime contributions to my floor. That dog also has to be completely potty trained, take the recycle out, be able to efficiently unload and reload the dishwasher and put folded, unfolded, then refolded piles of laundry away.

- Post about Bubbalu's and Lil Chick's birthday parties. I did promise to do that after all. Something about cake, a tutu, and dimples, remember? Yeah, I didn't forget. I'll get to it. Sometime. Eventually....maybe.

- Take pictures, crop, recrop and upload them and list new spring flower pins to the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy shop. SUPER cute new colors, just can't get up the gumption to do it yet.

- Make amends with my serger. The first time around I broke a needle and has to figure out how to replace that WHILE rethreading all four threads. My brain almost stopped working.

- Complete the Sharpie clean up.

- Dole out and frame the pics I got of the kiddos in November. They are super cute pics, I should SHOW THEM.

- Stretch. The power pump and body blast classes I'm taking at the gym are working, but they produce some major muscle "issues".

Ah well, some days are productive, some days aren't. Today I hung out with my Bubbalu and Lil Chick and ate some chocolate.

And that's just fine by me...

A

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE ***

Destructo Boy Strikes Again...

On Saturday mornings we try to sleep in.

Usually this means we get up at 6:45 instead of 6:40.

Our 34.2 lb "alarm clock" usually wakes us up.

Last Saturday our alarm clock woke up at SIX.

Um, NO. Back to bed you go.

Bubbalu wasn't too thrilled at being put back to bed and wandered downstairs whilst Mama and Papa tried to sleep in.

I was dozing and could hear him rummaging around with his train set. After a good while it got quiet.

TOO QUIET.

The TOO QUIET is NEVER good with young children.

It's the TOO QUIET that makes you sprint down the stairs to find out what's going on.

This time the TOO QUIET was:



and:



and:



and (look closely, window AND windowsil) :



and more window and windowsil:



and:



and:



Oh yeah, and I forgot, the pièce de résistance:



Kinda ironic that I'm googling "how to remove sharpie" and reading the hints and tips THROUGH a sharpie scrawled screen.

Surprisingly, the computer screen was the easiest thing to clean. How I did it? A pencil eraser. It erased the sharpie RIGHT OFF. I was astounded, but very relieved that my computer screen wasn't permanently damaged. Oh, and when I picked up my camera to take a picture of the sharpie-marked room and turned it on, sure enough, he'd gotten the back display too. Pencil eraser once again to the rescue.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser got most of the sharpie off the computer, mouse, printer, exersaucer (didn't take a picture of those) , camera, window and windowsil. If you remember, this isn't the first time Bubbalu has marked the windowsil.

No, I never did get around the sanding it down and refinishing it the first time around. Good thing because I would have been that much more upset...as if that's even possible.

Took me only an hour to laugh about it all. Lance smiled right away.

It was one of those JUST CHOOSE JOY moments. This time it took me an hour. I'm working on shortening the time distance between THE EVENT to THE JOY.

I think this may be a life-long journey, this CHOOSING JOY business...

A

Flower Pin GARDEN...

After all, it's always nice to have OPTIONS when choosing accessories, right???



A

Um, My Serger Scares Me...

Ever felt frustrated with how difficult and confusing it is to thread a sewing machine? Goodness gracious, I know I've had troubles with them. Bobbin cases, tangled thread, weird loop-de-loops and then threading the needle?

Oy, it almost makes ya want to throw the whole dang thing out the window.

However.

Give me a plain ole sewing machine ANY day. I just spent the last WEEK learning how to properly thread my new serger.

Yes, it DID take a week. (Was slightly distracted on an every-five-minute-whine-session schedule by Bubbalu and Lil Chick)

Yes, there are FOUR threads to figure out. (FOUR! All at the same time.)

Yes, it requires a TWEEZERS to thread the serger. (I should only have to use tweezers for C Sections, plucking errant eyebrow hairs or removing a splinter from Bubbalu's hand.)

Yes, there is an upper looper and lower looper. ( A WHAT!?)

Yes, I've read the manual cover to cover and still am not quite sure what the upper looper and lower looper IS or WHERE they are on my serger. (Um, WHAT?!)

Yes, I've watched the instructional DVD's that came with it and still am not quite sure what the upper looper and lower looper IS or WHERE they are on my serger. (Yes, I DID watch an informational DVD on the proper use of my Serger. Stop laughing. I am NOT a nerd!)

I'm feeling a wee bit intimidated. (As if you couldn't tell)

Besides, any fast moving machine that has a cutting BLADE on it scares me. Especially when my fingers are less than an inch from said blade. (A BLADE.)

A Blade + Amanda's fingers = Amanda freak out.

I haven't named my serger yet, but I'm thinking it needs an appropriate name. I may need to wait awhile and see how it treats me first. If it cuts me, it automatically gets an ugly name. If it makes perfect, professionally finished seams with ease, it will get a lovely name.

I'll just have to wait and see.

Off to the crafting room I go, but have no fear! I have a phone within reach so I can dial 911 should my serger get all riled up and attack me...

A

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE ***

All I Ask For Is a Sassy Calender...

Dear Costco,

I must say I am disgruntled and disappointed at the 2010 calender selection provided at your local warehouse. I was unable to find one to suit my taste as you are no longer carrying the calender style I have purchased for the last...oh...FIVE years or so. Why aren't you carrying the Mary Engelbreight calender this year? Did you say something to tick her off?

In desperation, (after all, it WAS January 4th already) I purchased the scenic Washington calender. Not that I don't love scenery, I'm just not a fan of scenic picture calenders. I also don't like cat or dog calenders or the top 12 wild game kills in Washington calender.

Today my Mother informed me she has purchased an adorable and SASSY calender that far outshines my scenic Washington calender. She said it was even advertised as being a SASSY calender. They were pretty much thinking of me when they designed it, I'm sure.

What really frustrates me is that she paid $0.49 less than I did for the aforementioned sassy calender that she has in her possession.

Costco, dear Costco, you really bit the big one on calenders this year.

Good thing you redeem yourself with your $1.09 Mocha. Goodness gracious, I'd forgive A LOT worse than shoddy calender selection for a $1.09 Mocha. For example: One day I asked my husband to pick up romaine lettuce from our local warehouse and he said they were ALL OUT of romaine. I about fainted right then and there. Good thing I had a $1.09 Mocha to revive myself with.

Costco, we're still friends. I'm still your biggest fan. Our house is still a product promoting Kirkland Signature billboard.

Let's just do better with your calender selection for 2011, M'kay? Maybe consider carrying a sassy calender for your #1 fan.

Come December I'll be on the lookout, Mocha in hand.

With deepest regard and affection,

A

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE ***

How To Have THIN Knees...

So I've been perusing websites looking for bathing suit options, and came across this...uh...article of clothing in the swimsuit section. Apparently it is designed to wear with a bikini top:



"Yes Ma'am, this piece will help to emphasize your saddle bags and inner thighs, but you will have the THINNEST knees on the pool deck!"

A

My FAVORITE Post of 2009...and a Mr. Linky

Happy New Year!

Just between you and me, this Mama is thrilled to see 2009 over and a bright and fresh new year here and ready for us to live it.

What can I say? 2009 wasn't spectacular. There were many struggles and issues going on in our lives. Not that we don't have any more struggles or issues (let's face it, with MY attitude problem there is ALWAYS an issue) but somehow I think 2010 will be a wonderful year.

I'm reflective and pensive today, remembering one year ago today when I hit rock bottom. We rang in 2009 to the blips and lights of monitors in the hospital with our sick three week old baby girl. We were day four into Lil Chick's hospital stay and I completely lost it.

It STILL makes me cry to think about it.

I cry EVERY TIME I read that post.

That post needed to be written. It was how I dealt with the overwhelming circumstances and the flood of thoughts and emotions pouring over and through me. I sobbed as I wrote it, knowing full well I looked like a crazy woman with tears spilling onto the keyboard.

Strangely, It's my favorite blog post of 2009.


A

Flower Pin Giveaway WINNER!

Time to announce the winner of the Flower Pin Giveaway!

Congratulations Ashley of Jane of All Trades!

Ashely's winning entry selected by Random.org was:

Ashley said...

...and I'm a fan on facebook!

December 19, 2009 8:54 AM

Congratulations Ashley! You have until Midnight Jan 3rd to send me your address so I can mail your sassy new flower pins to you. If I don't hear from you by then another winner will be selected. Email vintagedutchgirl at gmail dot com.

Thanks everyone for entering and following, reading, subscribing and being a fan on Facebook. You guys make me smile!

A

Postpartum Tummy In A Two Piece SwimSuit...

I started my online swimsuit shopping today.

Hello motivation!

Maybe I could petition swimsuit merchandisers to photograph their products on postpartum women so I could have an accurate picture of what they would look like on REAL women's bodies. Anyone with me?

Showcasing that hidden tummy smoothing panel and unique shape effects spandex on a size two, nearly six foot tall stunning model doesn't really give a correct example of how this swimsuit will work for me.

I would almost go so far as to say it's false advertising.

Give me an average, just had a baby or two woman and do a before and after front and side shot and then MAYBE I'll consider your product.

Just sayin.

Coming soon, I'll show you some of my top swimsuit picks, but in the meantime, please share what has worked for those of you with postpartum tummies!

A

Flower Pin Giveaway Ends TONIGHT!

Hey all you Vintage Dutch Girl readers, last chance to enter to win TWO beautiful flower pins! The giveaway ends TONIGHT (12/26) at midnight...OK, really 11:59. OR 23:59 hours for those of you following military time. Whatever.

STILL, click on over to get your entries in (up to FIVE chances!) and get a shot at free flower pins. The last time I looked there were only 56 entries, so you've got a pretty good shot at some free sassification!

Find the giveaway HERE...or just scroll down a few posts. Merry Christmas everyone!

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

FLOWER PIN GIVEAWAY!

Guess what? I don't have time to write a nice long, informative and sassy post today. Guess what I DO have time for?

A giveaway!!!

That's right, let's give something away, just because I love ya all and am feeling mighty festive right about now.

Just think, when I'm busy, you benefit. Doesn't get much better, does it?

Up for grabs are TWO handmade by me flower pins perfect for sassifying your wardrobe.



The teal on this 3 1/4 inch wide flower pin is STUNNING. LOVE it. Remember, teal (and all jewel tones, for that matter) are extremely popular right now. This pin would help that plain black long-sleeved t-shirt that we ALL have in our closet be trendy and fashionable.



This black and silver on black lace pin is 2 3/4 inches wide with a black pearl center. I've been wearing a similar pin on a black velvet cropped jacket that I have and am loving the extra sass it adds.

And can I just say? These pictures don't do the flower pins any justice. They are so much purtier in real life!




What!? You WANT some sass too? OK, there are handmade flower pins in my ETSY shop found HERE.

OH!? You want to enter to win a FREE set of flower pins? OK, OK, OK, here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me on what outfit/article of clothing you'd use this sassy pin, or where you would wear it.

2. Earn another entry by FOLLOWING ME via the Google Friend Connect Follow Me doodad located on the right sidebar and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you just signed up or already DO follow Vintage Dutch Girl.

3. Earn yet another entry by subscribing to the Vintage Dutch Girl blog via a reader and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you newly subscribed or already do so.

4. Earn another entry by BECOMING A FAN on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE...and LEAVE ME ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you became a fan or already ARE a fan.

5. STILL need some more entries? Whew...OK. Earn another entry (if you're still counting, that's up to FIVE) by blogging about, facebook posting, or tweeting about this giveaway (with links added in to spread the fun!) and LEAVE ANOTHER COMMENT telling me you did so.

(Sorry, but for shipping reasons, this contest is only open to residents of USA)

I will leave the contest open until midnight (PST), December 26th (next Saturday) at which time I will select a winner through Random.org and post the results.

* Remember!!! You do NOT have to run a blog or have a google/gmail account to enter. Just click in as anonymous and make sure you tack your first name and email on the bottom of your comment so I can contact you if you win. Enter to win and join the fun!

Alrightly folks, let's get the entry comments a goin'....

A

The Crabbiest Human In the Universe Makes a Choice...

(written Tuesday afternoon)

Today I might possibly be the crabbiest human on the face of planet earth.

OK, maybe the crabbiest human in the universe.

Yeah, that about sums it up.

So why why WHY would Bubbalu choose this day to break his own "see how many forbidden things I can get into and destroy/maim/render useless/deface/shred/combust" record?

Methinks it may have something to do with the 4:30 wake-up. He stealthily crept into our bedroom and from 3 inches away stared at my face until I startled awake.

"Mommy, I has to go potty".

On one hand, hip hip hurray to Bubbalu for staying dry all night long as a JUST turned 3 yr old. On the other hand, Bubbalu has a hard time going to the potty by himself and needs Mama (*AHEM* or PAPA...) assistance.

As a parent, some days are SO frustrating and mind-numbingly exasperating that you just HAVE to make a choice to choose joy. You can choose to completely lose it, or you can smile, laugh and go about your day.

Today, Bubbalu has been very...uh...inventive in his creativity and pursuit for knowledge and the inner workings of, well, EVERYTHING.

Near the end of this trying day, Bubbalu cajoled Lil Chick to once again climb the stairs and go and play in Mommy and Daddy's bedroom. Normally this is just fine as I have a strategically placed basket of books, dolls and cars for them to play with instead of wreaking havoc. I was downstairs in the laundry room, and having a dryer that isn't QUIET covers up the kids being TOO QUIET.

You know, the TOO QUIET that causes you to run. No, SPRINT.

I was just thinking to myself, "Hmmm, wonder what they're up to?" and heard a loud THUMP. Then a few more. THUMP thump THUMP.

What in the world are they up to!?

Raced upstairs to find that Bubbalu had located Mama's Christmas wrapping paper stash hidden under the bed...in a huge plastic under the bed type storage bin.

How how HOW he managed to pull it out (it is HEAVY - remember, I shop at Costco. Costco has AWESOME wrapping paper. True to their norm, you get a LOT of wrapping paper per roll. Each weigh a TON...and I had at least four of those in there as well as numerous other paper rolls), unlatch both handles and get the double sided lid off is a mystery to me.

Then he must have decided that since it was hidden under the bed, put away neatly and clearly MEANT for him, he started to investigate.

Really now, it wasn't that bad. From my view into our bedroom I just had to take a deep breath and just choose joy. Choose to smile and not to scream.

Then I followed a paper trail into our master bathroom.

And again had to CHOOSE JOY...after gasping out loud, of course.

Bubbalu had triple lined every square inch of the place with wrapping paper.

BRIGHT, GLASS HALF FULL SIDE:

-my previously undecorated for the holiday season bathroom is now VERY festive
-my boy understands which colors coordinate perfectly for wrapping
-my boy knows QUALITY paper...he chose the best, most expensive wrapping paper for his "decorating"
-my boy knows how to entertain his younger sibling for great lengths of time
-my Christmas wrapping paper stockpile is now so low I must replace some posthaste
-my paper recycle bin is VERY full

And that is it. No DARK, GLASS HALF EMPTY side. Why???

Because THIS Mama, despite starting the day off as the crabbiest human in the universe, is choosing JOY...

A

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE ***

Laundry Advice From My Forgetful Brain...

Dear Amanda,

Why why WHY do you insist on putting your good most favorite in all of our universe dark gray dress pants that you cannot replace as the store you bought them at three years ago sunk into the abyss of bankruptcy into the dryer just for a few minutes to get the wrinkles out before hanging them up to fully dry?

You KNOW you will forget to take them out and the realization that you forgot (AGAIN) will hit you in your forgetful brain when you hear the dryer buzzer go off. It mocks you, that buzzer.

You KNOW they will be just a tad too tight forcing you to do eighty million deep knee bends and squats to fit the ole' backside correctly.

But hey, at least you got a good workout in...

Love,

Your Forgetful Brain

LAST Day of the Jingle Bell Etsy Shop SALE....

Heads up, it is the LAST day of the Jingle Bell Sale over at my ETSY shop!



The Buy Two Get one Free Flower Pin Sale is ending tonight at midnight. Hurry up and get those last few presents or stocking stuffers you were looking for!



And by the way, there's something new with RUFFLES in the shop...and it's PINK...and it's PLAID...and did I mention? It has RUFFLES:



It's pretty much perfect.

A