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 :) ***

Wearing Maternity Clothing While NOT Pregnant, Episode 2...

I had to laugh at all of your comments in reply to my Maternity clothing question from yesterday. So, I'm NOT alone! Some of you DO have some cute maternity clothes that pass for "regular" wear.

However, most of my Facebook friends stated that they don't wear ANY maternity clothing items when not pregnant.

I must admit, wearing maternity clothing while not actually pregnant is a gamble.

• First of all, someone might actually ASK YOU where you purchased, oh, I don't know, a CARDIGAN and you have to be all vague and not answer in complete truthfulness.

• Secondly, someone might suspect that you actually ARE pregnant. However, my style consultant has let me in on a little secret: If someone IS pregnant, they try to HIGHLIGHT their belly....if someone IS NOT pregnant, they try to HIDE it. Good to know. ( And I never never NEVER ask if someone is pregnant unless I am assisting them while they deliver their baby. You shouldn't ask either.)

• Thirdly, maternity clothing might actually make you look BIGGER. You need to have an in depth discussion with a good full length mirror before trying this. Also, you might want to enlist the opinion of a friend or ( if he has good taste and will actually answer HONESTLY) a husband.

• Fourthly, Get to know your seam ripper and take those incriminating tags OFF your Maternity clothing!
  

There, those are my rough guidelines.

My biggest reason for choosing to wear some maternity clothing while not pregnant is that over the past four years maternity clothing was the cutest, newest, and most stylish clothing I purchased....strike that, the ONLY clothing I purchased.

Our clothing budget last year was a big fat $0.00 and I had to improvise. Which is why I hauled my Maternity clothing stash up the stairs to my sewing room and started cutting and resewing them....all sassified, of course, and taken in on the side seams so I didn't LOOK pregnant.

Refashioning Maternity (or any other) clothing can be tricky and at times frustrating, but in the case of a low budget with a splash of creativity...it's a perfect fit.

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 :) ***

While In Line At The Costco Food Court...AGAIN...

On Friday I was in line at Costco's food court to get a (*ahem, 2) mocha to sip on my drive home. It was quite a long line as the lunch crowd was getting all antsy for their chicken bakes and slices of pepperoni pizza. And by slice I do mean the equivalent of a medium sized pizza. But in slice form. HUGE slices.

Anywho.

So I overhear these two young women chatting behind me in the line. They were dressed in workout gear and all cute and sassy. Best of all?

They had British accents.

Maybe it's my current obsession with 'Pride and Prejudice' that is making me love a British accent right now. I read through the entire book last week. Yep, in ONE WEEK. I've actually started it a few times but never got past the first 50 pages or so. Now that I've watched the latest movie version ( yes, yes, I realize that it's sputton (aka: sacrilege) to you die hard Austen fans who prefer the A&E version from 1995 or maybe even the BBC production from 1980.) I think I understand the story line so well now that it was an absolute delight to read. I'm now on to 'Sense and Sensibility'. After that maybe some Emma. I've also been told that 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' is quite good. Not sure what THAT'S all about but I think I'll give it a try.

ANYWHO. Got a smidgen off subject there.

Back to Costco.

So the sassy British accent woman says to me, "Excuse me Miss, where did you purchase your cardigan? I've been looking for a short sleeved cardigan and can't seem to find one?".

NOW. I was feeling all proud of myself for actually sorta dressing cute that day. I had a hot date with the hubby that morning at the office. Nothing like some drilling and sealants on a date! But I wanted to look cute so I retired my faded-to-gray yoga pants and actually tried to put an outfit together.

Dark yellow fitted tee, black short sleeved long length cardigan with hot pink flower pin, a black necklace, Diva jeans from Old Navy and my normal black wedge shoes. I was so proud of myself for mixing colors.

When she asked me I paused a bit before answering her a vague, "Oh, somewhere in the mall?" smiled and turned back around.

I hope she didn't see my flaming red cheeks.

You see, how do you explain to a young, hip woman that you are not currently and haven't been pregnant for about 16 months but bought your coveted cardigan at MOTHERHOOD MATERNITY and are STILL WEARING it?

I just didn't have the self-confidence or nerve to tell her.

Methinks it's time to get the ole seam ripper busy and take that incriminating tag off of my black cardigan.

And I think I'll be sticking with my vague, "Oh, somewhere in the mall..." answer.

Hey, at least I looked cute and had a mocha (*ahem, 2) to sip on while driving my non-pregnant but maternity clothes wearing self home.

C'mon ladies, spill it. Do YOU have a item of maternity clothing that you STILL wear despite not being preggers?

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 :) ***