Flower Creatin' Obsession...

Uh, I've been kinda busy. And NO, not because my house is now all shiny and sparkly. I wish.

I may have a flower creatin' obsession. It's quite the invasive disease. Not that I'm looking for a cure. It's fun and I'm loving what I can come up with.

Brace yourself.

Flower overload heading your way if you scroll down. Just to break the trend is something a little different at the end. It has ruffles people. RUFFLES. Ruffles make me happy.

Everything (including MORE photos, if that's even possible) is now up for grabs in the Vintage Dutch Girl Etsy Shop:













PHEW! Still with me? I'm impressed!

OK, here you go, some happy smiley RUFFLES:



Need a closer shot? Mkay:



*(insert sigh of contentment)*

RUFFLE quota of the day has just been met...

A

The Sassifying Continues...

At the rate I'm going I soon won't have any normal shirts left:



I say that as if it's a BAD thing.



It's SO not a bad thing.

A

Ms. Boring Pink T Shirt Gets a SASSY Makeover...

Meet Ms. Boring Pink (used to be maternity, but isn't anymore thanks to my scissors and sewing maching) T shirt.

She's BORING. She's BLAH. She needs some OOMPH and some SASS:



Enter extra flower petals laying around, my sewing machine and a napping baby and SHAZAM!!!

She's no longer boring and blah:



DEFINITELY some SASS going on:



I'll admit it, I about peed my pants when I washed it ( inside out) and it turned out PERFECT. Phew! Because really now, what stay-at-home-Mama do YOU know that can walk around in a dry-clean only T shirt? Puh-lease. It needs to be 'baby spewed yams on me again' proof.

And guess what? IT IS! Of course, I don't dare put it in the dryer, so 'hang to dry' it will be.

And Ms. Sassy Pink T shirt makes me smile just looking at her:



Now that's a makeover if I ever saw one...

A

p.s. I'm thinking about starting a little T-shirt Sassification business...you send me a blah shirt and I make it all nice and sassy (ruffles, flowers, decorative trim, petals etc.) . I would love some feedback from you, my lovely readers! So, whatcha think? Spill it in the comments.

Flannel Burp Cloths...

New Flannel Burp cloths in the Vintage Dutch Girl ETSY shop:







A

Guaranteed Halloween Candy Snacking...

Well, this is ONE way of guaranteeing a significant amount of Halloween candy left over for your snacking needs:



You can't quite make it out? OK, here's the close-up:



My neighbor said it was hilarious to watch the oblivious trick-or-treaters saunter up the walkway anticipating candy then run away screaming, "Swine flu! Swine flu!".

I'm happy to provide entertainment for my neighbor and a smidgen of exercise for those candy-laden children.

And now I MUST be going. I have a huge orange pumpkin bowl of candy that I must eat. It DOES have an expiration date, didntcha know?

A

Nifty Lil Button...

For all two of my RSS and Reader subscribers, I wanted to give a heads up. We (*ahem* I) had a lovely streamlined site update and have added this nifty lil button! Feel free to grab (highlight, copy and paste) the html code and slap it onto your blog!

<a href="http://www.vintagedutchgirl.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt148/VintageDutchGirl/JustLivetile4quad2.jpg" /></a>

A

Yes, That IS An Avocado Stain...

Public Service Announcement.

Yes, I AM going to the grocery store in my present state.

Yes, I WILL be wearing my UW Dental School white hooded sweatshirt with the big green and brown avocado stain on the front.

No, I WON'T be charming and friendly if I happen to run into you.(Not literally RUN into you, however, if I DO RAM your cart that is blocking my view of the assorted chocolate bar varieties, I'll apologize nicely.)

Yes, I AM feeling quite crabbified at this moment.

Yes, my immune system IS on an extended (read: semi-permanent) holiday.

Yes, I am feeling VERY thankful for a Gramma who lives in town.

YES, there is NO SOUP in my pantry.(No soup! No soup for you!)

Must remedy situation with the greatest possible speed and promptness. Grocery store here I come.

You've been warned...

A

*edited to add: Grocery store run has been completed, no cart-ramming to report*

Wordless Wednesday...Sorta...

As if any words are needed to describe my joy.

(whoops, that sentence slipped out. This from the girl who got "Talks Too Much In Class" on EVERY SINGLE report card Kindergarten through 12th Grade. I'm sure it would have been on my college reports except they didn't have spaces for professor comments!)

Happy seasonal coffee drinking, and a merry UNwordless Wednesday to you...

A

Project FAIL...

Project FAIL.

Most of my latest projects have FAILED. Either a project doesn't turn out the way I envisioned, I cut wrong (ARGH!!!) or it has irked me to the point that I ignore it and hope it miraculously gets completed without my assistance.

Hence the reason for lack of project posting the past few weeks.

It is so frustrating when I use up precious project/crafting time, which is painstakingly carved into the daily list of needed activities (such as FEEDING MY CHILDREN), and a project fails.

My Latest FAIL:

Problem: Two gorgeous chair revamps that have gone horribly wrong during the painting process. At this point I am considering changing from my original thought of 'sleek and classic black paint job' to 'distressed on purpose'. It's the only way to salvage them...unless I start over with sanding, cleaning, drying, priming and repainting. I'm WAY too impatient and lazy to restart BOTH of them.

Verdict: Distressed they will be to prevent more distressing of ME...

A

Jones Soda Winner Announced...

The winner of the Customizable Jones Soda has been chosen on the Vintage Dutch Girl Giveaway blog! Go on over and see if it is YOU!

Stay tuned, more giveaways coming up...

A

Newly Added Lovelies...

More lovelies newly added to the Etsy Shop:









A

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