Me Loves the Toddler Food...

It doesn't matter how old I am...I will always love toddler food.

Macaroni and cheese?

YES PLEASE.

Tall glass of ice-cold chocolate milk?

YES PLEASE.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

YES PLEASE.

Chocolate pudding snack pac?

Hand it over!!

How sad is it when you get a little too excited that the littles didn't finish all their lunch and you need to help finish it?

That'd be me.

May explain the residual post baby...uh...ISSUES that I have. And yes, as I have explained before, I am claiming the "I just had a baby" excuse for five years. FIVE.

Sounds reasonable to me...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

Wearing Tomato Cages And Eating Dirt...

I FINALLY got my garden in earlier this week. It was a glorious weekend and my seeds would have germinated...had they been in the ground on time. Oh well, at least they are in now!

Bubbalu helped me pot and stake the tomatoes while Daddy worked on building a gate:


("Look Mommy! I'm a ROBOT SPACESHIP!!!")

I'm hoping that tomato production and consumption will be good this year. Well, as long as my Tomato Bandit leaves them alone, that is.

OY.

Lil Chick was nearby and discovered that she was VERY fond of the potting soil and "helped" me plant my pots:






("Hey Mommy, this brown stuff is F.U.N. to play with! It looks like chocolate cake, but doesn't QUITE taste like it. But that's OK, I'll still eat it.")

* Did you happen to spot a chair revamp in the background? I honestly forgot to post about it. Will post it soon!*

The kids have been LOVING being outside in the sunshine. Mommy has been loving it too. The perfect kind of day for lunch on the deck:



Little did I know Bubbalu would steal Lil Chick's sandwich when I went back inside. Oh, the brotherly love...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

My Special Custom Costco Cart...

Dear Costco,

In addition to the drive thru that you will install for me, your #1 Customer, I have another request.

I would like to request a special custom cart saved just for me and a select group of my friends who make the list. (Am currently compiling the list and will deliver it to you upon completion of my request).

My Special Custom Costco Cart must include:

1. A plexiglass divider between the two seats in the front of the cart. It must be at least 4 feet tall so a certain 3 yr old cannot reach over to pummel his 1 yr old sister.

2. A plexiglass kick plate on the front under the shopping cart handle that extends down a good 3 feet or so to protect my legs and stomach from being kicked by aforementioned 3 yr old.

3. Why don't we just go and enclose the entire child-holding part of the cart while we're at it. Please let it be completely soundproof as to mute the sounds that comes out of my 1 yr old when she opens her mouth. (Lil Chick screamed so loud today in Costco that the elderly woman in front of me jumped clear out of her orthopedic shoes. Then she glared at me. Right before Bubbalu threw my Costco coupon book at her. Lovely. Mother of the year.)

4. I NEED a cup holder. And maybe you could make it keep my hot mochas hot and the frozen ones cold. Why don't you just put two or three of those hot/cold cup holders on there while we're at it so I can sip one while I shop and keep one or two more the appropriate temperature so when I arrive at my Sister's house they will be the perfect temperature for an hour long impromptu chat/playtime.

5. I could use a small mirror so I can fix my hair that gets hopelessly disheveled when I walk through the wind tunnel at the entrance to the store.

6. A receipt holder clip on the side of the plexiglass child enclosement so that the receipt isn't in a sweaty crumpled mess in my fist by the time I get to the sharpie wielding checkers at the exit.

7. A map of the store complete with current location of the Starbucks Frapps and Tostito's queso cheese. Yes, I could NOT find the queso cheese today. Very disturbing.

8. A priority checkout pass. Ya know, because I'm your #1 Customer and all.

Except for your Kirkland Signature Macaroni and Cheese. You missed the mark on that one.

Please let me know when my cart will be ready. I'll be waiting.

Yours truly,

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

The Flute Got Flushed...

I was all excited last week to give the kids a toy flute and harmonica to play with. After all, we are excellent parents providing our offspring with creative, mind enriching toys.

That flute was LOUD. VERY LOUD. It kept getting "lost" on top of the piano and on the highest shelf in the cupboard. Sad, very sad.

However, Bubbalu kept finding it and playing with it. And yes, the flute did get flushed down the toilet last week. It wasn't the ENTIRE flute, just a four inch mouthpiece that makes the remaining pieces of the flute...well...NOT like a flute.

More like a blue stick with holes in it.

And guess what?

It's a Mute Flute.

Yep, completely quiet. He can try and try to make it whistle, but nope, that thing is mute.

And I'm not ONE bit sad about it.

Fast forward a few days to 9:30 pm Saturday night. I'm busily scrubbing down the bathrooms in anticipation of hosting a family BBQ right after church Sunday morning. (What?!? Doesn't EVERYONE scrub their bathrooms at 9:30 on Saturday night? SUCH a life of luxury I lead...)

Scrub the toilet and flip the flush lever. And the toilet is hardly draining. It SLOOOWWWLLLLY finishes flushing and I remember that stupid flute mouthpiece.

Argh.

Which leads to a 9:35 PM Saturday night phone call to my dad, "Uh, Dad, how do you take apart a toilet?"

And what does he say? "I'll be over in five."

Awww, thanks Dad!

Mom came along to witness the fun and helped me finish scrubbing the house. After we made a much needed Dairy Queen run for refreshments we reviewed the pics I'd snapped of the Toilet Flute Incident of 2010:



Dad pointing to the place where they found the flute mouthpiece:



And we've sealed our Classiest Neighbors on the Block status by using our FRONT LAWN as a toilet hosing out location:



Extra fertilizer, right?

I'm just glad it was dark:



After the whole thing was over my husband says to me, "Do you have ANY idea how disgusting it is to pick up poo with your hand?"

UMM.

Did you REALLY just ask me that?

A. You got to wear gloves when you cleaned up poo

B. You got to haul the whole thing out the front door and hose it off. Can't really do that with the kids. Well, I COULD, but that's a little harsh.

C. I'm a Mama with two kids under 3, so yes, I DO KNOW what it's like to clean up poo with my hand...and it happens on an alarmingly frequent basis.

But, I've gotta give him props, he fixed our toilet!

I'm watching Bubbalu like a hawk around the toilet. Especially if he's been playing with musical instruments. I REALLY don't want to have to call my Dad at 9:30 at night explaining that his grandson flushed the harmonica, bongo drum AND maracas down the crapper...

A

** Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

The Swagger Wagon...

My new favorite song:



OK, Chevy, we need the Tahoe version. I'd be willing to do a cameo if the price is right...

A

Some Sewing Inspiration...

I'm feeling all crafty today. Time to unearth the sewing machine and get back to it. Just a bit of inspiration for ya:












Aren't they beautiful?

I'd better get to it before the laundry and housework changes my mind...

A

**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **

My Plunger and I Are Going to Be VERY Good Friends...

No no, not because I have malfunctioning bowels. Besides, do you really think I'd BLOG about having intestinal issues? Goodness gracious. That's just disgusting.

Anywho...

Destructo Boy has been VERY busy this week.

That, combined with Lil Chick's new found love of dancing on top of the dining room table while screeching her little lungs out has greatly affected my frequency of blogging.

Oh, you noticed I've been a bit absent?

I'd love to stay and chat but I've got to go and figure out how to get a flushed blue flute mouthpiece out of the toilet.

I'm going to hope that the plunger works some miracle flush-reversal for me.

But you can bet on one thing: If I DO manage to unflush that flute mouthpiece you won't catch ME playing that flute EVER AGAIN.

Nastyness!

Also, I need to pick the remainder of my wall decal off the wall. And yes, that'd be because Destructo Boy thought it would be fun to peel a few necessary pieces off first.

Come to think of it, I haven't found all the parts he peeled off the wall. Wonder if he flushed them too?

Off to plunge...

A

*Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

Busy BEIGE Bloggy Break...

Well lookey there, took another bloggy break. Mama's been busy.

Busy painting some walls. Now, don't get all excited about a special color or anything, it's BEIGE. Boring boring BEIGE. I had to paint over the ugly non-flattering brown-red sludge that the "interior designer" picked for our home when it was built. It made the woodwork look orange. Not just a tinge of orange, but IN YOUR FACE orange. I was o-so-happy to get rid of it. Even if it was to paint it BEIGE. Had to make the room ready for our new chocolate brown sectional couch. The family room is coming together nicely. Except for all the BEIGE.

Can you tell I'm not a huge fan of the BEIGE? But it's worlds better than the sludge.

Busy feeding the children. Because they are food disposal professionals. They HAVE to be going through growth spurts because this is crazyness.

Busy cleaning and organizing the home front. Yep, unpleasant, but someone's gotta do it.

Busy building some gates for our yard. You know, a child backyard containment assistance device. The hubby and I have been having fun doing some carpentry. Power tools make me smile. I've got a bunch of projects on my list.

Busy getting the boy allergy tested. Let's just say skin pricking tests aren't Bubbalu's most favorite pastime. Mama and Bubbalu were both exhausted after that appointment. Starting to wonder what shenanigans Bubbalu will be getting into once he's healthier. Note to self: Hide the sharpies in a better location.

Busy helping Bubbalu and Lil Chick make my sister Sallie a birthday video. Not your average Birthday song, but oh well...



OK. The bloggy break is now over, nice to see your lovely faces again...

A

**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

Wall of TEAL Frames...

Our master bathroom needed some sprucing up. Some snazzyness. Some SASS:



See? BLAH.

Also, I was feeling some cabin fever and needed a quick paint pick-me-up project to distract me from snot wiping duty. So I loaded the snot-makers into the car and headed to our local thrift store.

$11 later, and I had me a painting pick-me-up project and some decorative sass for our master bathroom.

Aren't they LOVELY?



I deconstructed them, tossed the mirrors, duck, glass and landscape photo and painted them TEAL.

Yep, the very same teal that I painted my bedroom but have yet to show you. Mostly because I keep forgetting to...and maybe a bit because the color doesn't come out true and that BUGS me. Someday I'll get around to posting a decent-ish pic of it.

ANYWHO.

If you remember, that bedroom painting occurrence was a good two months ago. Didja know that if you cover your painting tray with a plastic bag and set it aside in the garage you can forget about it and delay cleaning it? Yup, true story.

So I rediscovered the 2 month old teal blue paint sitting there all sad and unloved so I just HAD to use it to makeover those sad frames.

Paint paint paint and wait to dry. Haul them upstairs to master bath, let them acclimate to their surroundings for a good three days before hubby says, "uh, hon, are you going to do something with these frames or are they just here to decorate the floor?" and then finally get around to hanging them on the wall.

Here ya go, sassy teal blue frames to give my sad master bathroom some interest:



MUCH BETTER. I smile every time I walk in there.



And really, my walls are NOT the color of a one month old's poo, they are a light yellow-beige. Hmm, maybe I should get a new camera? OR, I could photograph my walls during the daytime with natural light.

I decided that the frames needed more interest and dimension than plain, right outta the can, teal paint so I mixed in some black paint to darken the rest of the teal paint.

I dabbed it onto a rag and smeared it on the edges and detail and am loving the results:



The just-right amount of dimension and aging I was hoping for:



Not something I want on my face, but on frames? Yes please.

And yes, if you have a great memory, I have done this decorative technique before. What can I say, I know what I like and I like what I know.

So go out and grab a bunch of frames, paint em teal and throw em on the wall. Methinks you'll like it too...

A

I'm linking up to DIY parties today! Click over and check out all the projects!






***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

Sometimes They Have Potential...

Sometimes you are browsing through clothing racks and spot something with potential. You grab it, hopeful, until you see it is NOT your size. Or, about 3 sizes too big. Your hopes are dashed.

UNLESS....

I had a lovely friend bring me a cute shirt with potential that just happened to be about 3 sizes too big for her:



All she said???

"It needs you. Do whatever you want".

There's those words again! Love em.

This shirt sat on my "to be accomplished when inspiration hits" pile for a very long time. Anyone else have one of those?

And when I say a long time. I'm talking a LOONNNGGG time.

FINALLY inspiration hit. In full force.

I sliced and diced and added a wide belt hitting at that perfectly slimming, non-maternity looking spot and a sassy tie in the back and a Vintage Dutch Girl Flower pin to top it all off:





I'll admit, I wanted to keep this one :) But hey, it was fun to give it back to my sweet friend and see her smile!

A

***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) **

The Kate Shirt...

A sweet friend commissioned me to sassify a plain gray t shirt for her. She gave me some general guidelines, then said, "Well, do whatever you think".

I LOVE those words.

I wanted to create a design that melded together a few inspirational ideas, such as the Flower Patch Tee from JCrew:



Here's what happened to that plain, boring gray t shirt:



Dimensional (but not TOO poufy) flower swirls with petal detail:



Think of it like a permanent but casual corsage:



I loved sassifying this t-shirt. This one took a bit of hemming and hawing on my part before starting. Often I have to sit and stare at a project for a while before inspiration finally, belatedly, hits.

Inspiration for the Kate Shirt hit right in the middle of a week long puke and poop fest of the littles. I was going slightly crazy and it was a PERFECT mental vacation to be able to escape to the craft room and start sewing.

(*sigh*) I love sewing therapy...

A

***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) ***

Duplos...

So earlier this week I was on the phone having a deep serious conversation with my dear Mother In Law (whom I love dearly, by the way. Not your typical MIL to daughter-in-law relationship. So when I say having a deep serious conversation with her, that's a GOOD thing! ).

I was roaming about the kitchen and family room picking up things and doing that general tinkering about that most Mama's that I know do when chatting on the phone. Bubbalu and Lil Chick were nicely playing in the living room with the duplos.

I walked around the corner to check on the kids and BURST out laughing...right in the middle of a very intense sentence of Mom's.

This is why I was laughing:



Oh yes he did.

Duplos in the fishtank. WHY? I'm guessing he was thinking, "Well, she never said I COULDN'T throw my duplos into the fish tank, so let's try er out!".

I grabbed the little fish net thingy and was able to get most of them out. Yeah, I said most of them. There are three single duplos that sunk to the bottom that I couldn't get at.

Which is why, if you come over, you might see something like this in our tank:



But hey, at least the fish now have something to play with...

A

***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) ***

The Dining Room Battlefield...

What to do when you don't have any blog fodder? Quite simple really.

Change darling daughter's super blow-out diaper and remove her clothing as it is full of poo. After a thorough hosing off in the shower, put diaper-only clad baby into high chair. Give diaper-only clad 16 month old a bowl of stawberry yogurt and a spoon.

Leave unattended for....oh...about 65 seconds.

And.....PRESTO! Blog fodder:



My favorite part of this whole dining room mess was a lonely little strawberry perched precariously on the windowsill:



And which is why today I geared up, cranked my Ipod and scrubbed my dining room walls, chairs, windowsill, baseboards, table, high chairs and floor. It helped that I was listening to Jordin Sparks, 'Battlefield' on replay.

Cause I felt like I was fighting a battle. Amanda VS. Dried-on Food.

I have mini-skirmishes daily in the Amanda vs. Dried-on Food saga, but attempt a full-on war battle about once a week.

Each side will pull ahead for a time, only to be slapped back into last place. Currently, Amanda is sorta ahead. However, Dried-on Food has a champion fighter on their side which will most certainly attempt to slap my lead down around dinner-time tonight:



Isn't she ferocious?

She's also a bit sassy too. I have NO idea where she got that attitude from:



A

***Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) ***

Swoon...

I finally found the perfect chair to go in the corner of our newly painted bedroom. I am picturing a quiet little reading nook, complete with a small side table for the books I'm reading, my Bible and my coffee to sit on. Oh, and an ottoman. Gotta have the feet up and resting. It's good for your circulation, ya know.

Also, It's a perfect color match to our Dwell Studio Perch bedding:



Don't I make my bed so very nice and smooth? I iron it every morning. And then I iron and starch the pillow shams, making them stand on end. If that doesn't work (it usually doesn't) , I hot glue them to a steel frame to keep their shape. Gotta keep your shams in shape.

This beautiful new chair will also nicely go with our Intense Marathon Teal blue wall.

You wanna see it? OK, here you go:



SWOON.

As in, a not attainable swoon.

Anthropologie, you're killing me here...

A


***Didja know you can find me HERE on facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) ***

Our New Rule...

We have a new rule in our house. A rule that needs to be repeatedly shouted, oh, about 19 thousand times a day. Our new rule is:


"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!!!"


For some unknown reason (other than the fact that he is a BOY and is feeling quite sick of being cooped up inside all the time), Bubbalu is having a REALLY hard time following this new rule.

Poor Lil Chick. I'll hear a muffled squeak, groan and cry coming from somewhere in the house and I freeze, try to determine the direction from which the muffled sounds are coming from, and sprint to her rescue while screaming our new rule at the top of my lungs.

I try to throw in various decibels and tones to keep Bubbalu on his toes. Also, in an effort to increase the effectiveness of the reminder I put emphasis on different words in the rule each time I yell lovingly and gently say it:

"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!!!"

"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!!!"

"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!!!"

"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!!!"

"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!!!"

Sometimes, I even pull out the Emphasize The Entire Rule strategy:

"WE DON'T SIT ON BABIES!!"

But that one's saved for dire emergencies. For example: When I hear only a teeny tiny squeak and then.....SILENCE. Yep, that's when the Emphasize The Entire Rule strategy works wonders.

Followed up by a reciting of Bubbalu's entire given name with reminders as to what toys and privileges he holds dear and what may happen to those toys and privileges should he fail to acknowledge and obey the aforementioned rule.

I did say she'd have to be a tough, feisty girl. What with FIVE boy cousins and, ya know, a professional BABYSITTER for a brother.

Yeesh, it's been one of those days...

A

***Didja know you can find me HERE on facebook? True story. Become a fan and see the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day :) ***