Needed:
One Amanda Clone. Preferably one who loves to clean the house, discipline the children and maintain a modicum of order and sensibility. Needs to be subject to #1 Amanda's wishes and commands. Needs to be willing to play the "spaceship" game with Bubbalu and must display a thorough knowledge of sharpie removal tactics. Those frightened by loud noises or easily overwhelmed need not apply.
Does this little angel scare you?
Please don't apply.
Does this well-mannered child make you cringe?
Please don't apply.
All those left, please call 1-800-Mama-needs-a-clone...
A
**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and get the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **
I could be mistaken, but I'm fairly certain I saw these Poppy Crops on a thrift store rack a few weeks ago:
And these Bed of Roses Crops on the same rack:
I KNEW I should have bought them and sold em on Ebay.
Doh! Mental head slap...
A
I did it again.
I found another amazing piece of furniture that would look so very grand in my bland home:
Normally people buy boring furniture and buy sassy pillows, but NO, this Battersea Sofette in Bloom is the embodiment of sassy. It needs a few boring pillows to normalize and stabalize it. I'm thinking it would look great in my living room opposite of my chocolate brown couch.
Too bad it's just a tad out of my budget...
A
**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and get the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **
How do you score on the Maternity SATs? I did quite well...and laughed myself off my chair. Missy is hilarious, I have a feeling you'll love her as much as I do.
This tank top is BEGGING to be knocked off. It's next up on my list:
And that's all I've got.
I normally can't seem to drag myself out of bed before seven but today I set foot into Walmart at 6:00. Yes, A.M. As in, the MORNING. Yep, I'm still stunned I did that. And tired.
I don't fully awaken until about 8:30 - 9:00 ish so I really don't recall all of the shopping and aisle scanning that I accomplished before 8:30.
And with a pleased sigh and a smile about my productive day I'm heading off to bed. Well, as soon as I finish my oreo mint blizzard.
Nighty night...
A
**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and get the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **
WOW! Check you all out!
Can I just say? It was a JOY to read each and every comment (42 so far!) from the last post. It was so nice to meet so many readers! I KNEW you were out there :) It makes me want to blog more. To ask more questions. To post more projects. To ask for advice. To create more. Ya know, the usual.
I've been under the weather with a nasty summer sinus cold/infection thingy....yet I spent all my down time on the couch thinking up new sewing patterns, decor dreams and painting ideas. So while my body relaxed, my mind did NOT.
I often have a hard time shutting down the crafty side of my brain. It often goes 40 miles per minute (MPM) and doesn't stop when I need to rest. Walking through a fabric store or garage sale ramps it up to 100 - 200 miles MPM on an average day. If someone is with me? 300 MPM, easy.
Funny thing is, I often have more ideas for other people than for myself. My sweet sister-in-law recently asked me about a bathroom decor sprucing up and freshening and the ideas came ZING! ZING! ZING! at me.
Yet for myself? I don't know.
I have a hard time committing to new paint. To a new style. To a new shower curtain for goodness sake.
Yet when I hesitate, and hem and haw, then see my ideas elsewhere or other fabulous rooms that I KNOW I could have created I am frustrated with that uncertainty and inability to commit.
While blowing my nose for the hundredth time yesterday I started thinking about what holds me back.
1. I'm a penny-pincher. And I love to do things thriftily. It if looks great, was also a craft project and is inexpensive I'll get more joy out of it than running into Target and filling my cart with instant-decor items. Not that Target isn't wonderful, don't get me wrong. I just need more of myself infused into my home.
2. We bought a BRAND new home. A brand new, already painted "interior design" colors. Colors that I don't particularly care for. Including a dark yellow beige that is EVERYWHERE.... even the ceilings. If I change a wall color I also have to paint the ceiling....HUGE project. I need to get over that.
3. I don't trust my instincts. I tend to hold back when I think something will look good. I want other's approval first. A social green light so to speak. Not necessary.
4. I get intimidated. Hello design blogs, HGTV and magazines. A woman can have body image issues thanks in large part to media involvement. So too my home decor image issue is also media related. Media can be inspiring. Intriguing. Just don't let it intimidate you.
There. Those are some of the reasons why I am design/decor constipated. Think they make a anti- decor design constipation pill? Nope, didn't think so.
OK, big breath.
Time to start implementing my ideas.
Watch out, it's bound to get messy...
A
**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and get the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **
I got together with a bunch of girlfriends to celebrate a dear friend's milestone birthday. (Really now, DO go on over to her lovely, hilarious and down-to-earth blog and shower her with some birthday blessings!)
Amongst the many many many things we chatted about, blogging, stalking and blog commenting was a huge topic of conversation being that the majority of the gals are bloghappy.
I can't tell you HOW MANY TIMES I've been out and about getting groceries, picking up more Mr. Clean Magic Erasers or getting a Costco iced mocha to bump into someone who references something from my blog.
My usual reply is an astonished: "Oh!?! You read my blog!?! I had NO idea!"
Really now, it shouldn't be like that.
I LOVE to blog. I love to tell stories about my kids, share my crafts and sewing ideas and connect with friends, family and the blogisphere.
However, sometimes I feel a bit sad putting myself out there and getting a big fat zero response. Doesn't exactly encourage further posting. I know my site traffic...I have about a 2.5% response rate. Yes, that is a two followed by a POINT then a five. Not twenty five.
So, let's just put this out there: Why are people afraid to comment? What holds them back???
Ya know, way back when I started Vintage Dutch Girl I stalked a TON of blogs before timidly submitting my first comment. Then, once I had "declared" myself, it was a BLAST having conversations and building relationships with people I'd never met. Guess what? My bloggy buddies are very dear to me. They make me laugh. They make me smile. They give great advice. Most of them know RIGHT WHERE I AM...because they are RIGHT THERE TOO.
Think about it from this perspective. Say we are at a cocktail party (ya know, because I attend so very many cocktail parties that I am sick and tired of wearing my stunning LBB -Little black dress- and conversing with adults...) and we happen to be introduced:
"Hi, my name is Amanda, how are you?"
-----silence-----
"I'm married to my high school sweetie and have two vivacious children that constantly provide me with laughter and help to teach me the fruits of the Spirit. Do you have any children?"
-----silence-----
"My hobbies are crafting, sewing, painting...basically anything that involves creativity. I love to look at new fashion and try to recreate it by refashioning, altering and embellishing clothing. What about you???"
-----(crickets chirping)-----
You get the picture. So here's what I have to say:
1. Comments make my day. I love to hear what folks have to say. The more comments/response/feedback comes in the more I am inspired and encouraged to continue to blog. Comments make me smile. :) See? Big smile!
2. If you've been stalking me for awhile, say HI! I like to meet people! Let's chat, m'kay? I'm really not scary. Promise. Unless I'm dieting and you have Tostitos Queso cheese and tortilla chips. Then I'll straight-up right hook ya, grab the food and run.
3. YES, I realize that sometimes commenting just isn't possible. I fall off the commenting wagon frequently. Usually because I'm holding a 3yr old away from (once again) hitting the master power switch and zapping my computer or trying to convince the 18 month old that USB cables are NOT an item that we need to be chewing on.
So, whatcha got to say? I know you have thoughts bubbling inside. Share a word or two...
A
Please feel free to link/reference/quote this post on your blog...all I ask is that you link appropriately back to VintageDutchGirl.
**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and get the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **
I LOVE me some Mod Cloth. Talk about inspirational. Not to mention unique. I usually get the sewing itchies after I check out their new dress listings.
For Example, check out this ruffled, pleated goodness:
and this delicious one:
Doesn't this one beg for a summer picnic shindig? Complete with a lattice-topped home made cherry pie and some sassy bright red shoes:
And then there's my all time fave, the Pin-up Dress:
But I must admit I burst out laughing when I saw this one. Yes, I REALIZE it's supposed to be the number Eighty Eight...but....to me it looks like a ta-ta level determiner shirt.
Meaning, you put the shirt on and can easily decide where your ta-ta's are typically residing in their current state:
Easily determine if your ta-ta's are in the 1, 2, 3, or 4 level bracket... or(gasp!) beyond the brackets altogether.
Yup, thinking I'm OK not knowing which bracket level my ta-ta's are in...
A
**Didja know you can find me HERE on Facebook? True story. Become a fan (or like) and get the latest Vintage Dutch Girl posts in your news feed. Oh, and it'll make my day! **
Bubbalu did the 30 min Shred with me this morning. Lil Chick wanted in on the "fun" and did a few push ups and squats too. Yep, my kiddos will be ripped in no time. Nothing like a 6 pack on an eighteen month old. So anywho, I start the workout and Bubbalu takes one look at Jillian and says, "Mommy, that woman is angry. That is a MAD woman". You got that one right Bubbalu!
So on to my post subject...
If Bubbalu is bored (which happens frequently, evidenced by his insatiable desire to destroy things and see what household items the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser CAN'T remove sharpie from) my catch phrase is: "If you're bored you can choose to play outside or scrub my floors". I can just hear my Mom saying that to me when I was a young gal. What can I say? Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Bubbalu played outside for a good long while this morning on his play set. He then came to the screen door and said, "Mommy, I'm ready to scrub your floors!".
Love that boy.
Well, I scrubbed the floors yesterday so I offered him the job of vacuuming up the crumbs under the table. True to form, this boy not only vacuumed the entire dining room but moved on into the kitchen, pantry AND hallway making sure that no crumb was left behind.
LOVE that boy.
"Mommy, I'm done, now what can I do?"
SERIOUSLY?
OK, you can wipe down the table and your place mat for me.
So he wipes down the table, place mat, chairs and Lil Chick's high chair as well.
LOVE THAT BOY.
OK Bubbalu, you've helped out SO good, now you can go back outside to play.
Do YOU ask your kiddos to help out with daily chores? Which ones and at what age?
A
** Been reading along for awhile now? 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! **
Sunshine has been scarce in our parts. Lots and lots of days of gray and drizzle. I KNOW I live in the pacific northwest, but C'mon!
When the shy sunshine actually comes out I drop everything else and race outside to soak up some good ole Vitamin D.
Here's what I grab to head outside, summer sunshine-style:
Diet Coke on ice
Sunglasses
Spray sunscreen (Seriously, if you haven't tried the spray yet, you SHOULD! Especially for kiddos. No more slathering for us!)
Telephone
Ipod - Currently jiving to Allison Krauss
Magazines
Pirate Booty....which Bubbalu stole and ate.
Beach towel
and one good craft project. Nothing like cutting/seam ripping/sewing in the sunshine.
Ooops! Speaking of sunshine, I see some right this moment.
See ya, I'm off to relax...
A
Remember that I posted my love for the Swagger Wagon song? Yup, still love it. BONUS: Found out you can download the mp3 for free from the nice funky folks over at Toyota. Already have it added to my running playlist!
Oh, you want it too? Ok, go HERE to download it. Caution: may make you laugh when you are supposed to be exercising and focusing on your breathing. Just sayin.
Remember that I said I was freezing a pair of stinky shoes in the hopes that it would kill the stench-causing bacteria? Don't bother trying it. Could hardly tell a difference on the ole stink-o-meter. What DID work? Setting those stinky shoes out in the sunshine. Ahhhh, back to un-stinky feet and shoes!
Remember that I mentioned Destructo Boy peeled a cute space-ship wall decal off his wall? Well, he struck again. This time it was a cute robot decal that is now disemboweled, dismembered AND decapitated with it's sad body parts stuck in random spots all over Bubbalu's room. So much for a quiet, rejuvenating nap time. Good thing those decals were clearance items. Goodness gracious.
Oy, off to pick robot parts off the walls...
A
** Been reading this blog for awhile now? 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! **
I just put my shoes in the freezer.
I just got back from the TjMaxx and can I just say? I AM a Maxxionista! I wheeled my clothing laden shopping cart over to the fitting rooms and watched the lady's eyebrows hit her hairline. "You're going to try on ALL of those clothes?" she asked.
"Yep, what's the limit, six?" I asked.
"No, it's ten," she replied.
"Sweet! It'll only take me about five trips then!"
So I run into the room with my first batch of ten items and do some jedi-quick clothing try on's. I come back out to get the next batch of ten and the checker lady says,
"You have got to be the FASTEST clothing try on customer I've ever seen!" she exclaimed.
"I'm a PROFESSIONAL" I replied.
Except that I'm not sponsored to shop...yet.
Anywho, I noticed while zipping through the first batch of ten items that my feet had an, um...interesting scent. Meaning my feet were stinky. Upon further investigation I discovered that my SHOES were super yucky smelling. Blech.
Not cool. These are my uber-cute newish shoes that I'm wearing ALL.THE.TIME. This has to be fixed.
I googled and found this advice to freeze your shoes (each wrapped in a plastic bag) overnight and then let thaw out in the sunshine to remove the stink. Apparently the cold temperature kills the odor-causing bacteria and you have perfectly smelling shoes.
So, I did it. They're in my garage freezer in between a bag of last-years garden green beans and a package of eggos.
I'm thinking of submitting this stinky shoe remedy to the goofy guys over at 'Mythbusters'. Maybe they'll ask me to do a cameo on that episode. I don't care that the world will know that I have a stinky pair of shoes, I'll just make sure I get my hair and makeup done and get a new outfit before the cameras start rolling.
I'll keep you posted on the freezing the stinky shoes results soon. Any of you tried this before? Off to hang up my shopping treasures...
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! **
Melikes the teal. A bit of a teal obsession going on over here. It's my new neutral. If a shockingly bright color can be considered a neutral!?
According to Dictionary.com one of the definitions for neutral includes:
Matching well with many or most other colors or shades.
And because I DO match it will most other colors and shades....it's my new neutral. See? I'm not completely out of it. Just half way, right?
Anywho, many of you know I painted an accent wall in my boudoir a lovely teal shade. Except I never provided photographic evidence. Mostly because I am in need of an upgraded camera to replace my current non-correct color depicting camera, but anywho.
Here's what my bedroom looked like pre-painting. In a 'bed pushed to the center of the room and stuff piled on it so I can paint' arrangement:
The new color? Intense Marathon:
I showed the paint sample to my hubby and he raised his eyebrows and gave me the "you are a nut job" look. I kinda like it when he gives me that look.
Anywho, new accent paint on back wall, said adios to the non-matching red-brown sludge and new bedding and we now have:
(Yup, that is a cluster of three teal VintageDutchGirl fabric flowers on my accent pillow. Super easy way to dress up a pillow.)
(Goodness gracious I need more decor. And to lose those lamps - blech. Oh well, they were garage sale under $4.00. No biggie.)
Ahhhh. So much better.
Still not done yet.
Need to convince the hubby that I can paint the bed frame white.
Need to get new lamps.
Need some orange/persimmony ruffly accent pillow goodness.
All things on my list.
I DID have extra paint laying around....and once I get the painting stuff all set up I tend to go a little nutso.
I made this cute little side table for my front porch with scraps left over from our gate building
project. Yep, I used our chop saw and drill all by myself...and I LOVED it. Yep, I'm a woodworker's daughter through and through:
(Drat, those stupid chairs. I keep forgetting to post them. Ok, this picture will be the intro. See those chairs? I'll post Chapter one this week. Sound good? Ok. Oh and look at that dorky photographer in the window. Hasn't she ever heard of a reflection before? Sheesh.)
Anywho, it was boring. So, it got the good ole Teal treatment:
(Powered by diet coke, of course.)
And while the paint was out I hunted in the garage and house for things needing a little spunk of color. Grabbed a few more things and got to painting:
Yes, those are my garden stakes. Pictures to come soon.
Yup yup yup. Melikes the teal...
A
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Everyone has that boring plain white long-sleeve button down shirt just hanging in their closet, right? In my case, that boring white plain button down shirt had an extremely unflattering criss cross tie detail between the two back seams that just screamed MATERNITY. Or OUTDATED. Either one, not good.
So.....I chopped it up.
(And no, I did NOT take a before picture. Mostly because I couldn't find my camera. Also because when inspiration hits I can't think straight until I've attempted to create said inspiration. And lastly because you ALL KNOW what a boring plain white long-sleeve button down shirt looks like, right???)
Step 1: The collar was seam ripped off and then restitched the seam down leaving a simple edge. A much more clean and crisp look. Besides, the collar was all ugly and slubby from use. It was time for it to go.
Step 2: The long sleeves were chopped off and the sleeve edges refinished. (Save those cut off sleeves for Step 4!)
Step 3: Goodbye ugly outdated maternity criss-cross back ties! Seam ripped those babies right out and tossed em in the trash. Just a bit of restitching the seams down without those ties and the back looks 100% better.
Lastly, and most importantly....
Step 4: The sass. The fun. The RUFFLES! Seam ripped those cut off sleeves from Step 2 and cut double matching lengths for each side of front button placket.
(I had NO IDEA that my still-sorta-new-and-scary serger could do rolled hem edges. SAWEET! So stinkin' fun. Maybe I should actually finish reading my serger manual. It probably can do dishes and mop the floors too!)
Ran those matching lengths through the serger creating a rolled hem edge on each side, top and bottom and then created some sassy ruffles using a basting stitch with my regular sewing machine.
Pinned the ruffled goodness on, sewed em down and jumped up and down with glee. Sometimes I get so excited when a project I'm working on finally turns out the way I envisioned it that I just can't stand it and have to jump around a bit.
Hows this for some sass?
Looks much better with a black belt too:
(Pardon the bulkiness, I threw it on over a pink t shirt to snap this photo. Ha! I just noticed you can see the vertical lettering on my t shirt through the white shirt. :) I am SUCH a dork!)
OK, tear through your closet and start turning those long-sleeved shirts into ruffled short sleeved sass!
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 last three weeks in May were crazyness in our house. Bubbalu had a bad reaction to his anti-allergy medication and well....it made him kinda crazy. OK, more than just kinda crazy. Most of you already know how mischievous my Bubbalu can be. He took it to whole new level. Which in turn makes Mama crazy. You know how it goes.
Finally figured out what was going on and my normal mischievous level little Bubbalu is back!
(Big breath.)
I also had coffee with an amazing mentor Mama who said to me , "Amanda, have you been doing any crafting the last few weeks?"
Uh. No.
"Honey, you NEED to be creating. It's what you do for YOU."
Hmmmm.
I'm one of those Just finish your work and THEN you can play kinda people. Worked great when I had, you know, a REAL job. However, when anyone asks me if I'm working I always say, "Why yes, I do work, harder than I've ever worked in my life. I'm a Mom". Problem is, my job IS NEVER DONE. Are you a Mom? Is YOUR job ever done? Nope.
There is always something to be done and I feel guilty indulging in my crafting/sewing/creating time.
But I was unhappy.
So, I made a choice. I chose to leave dishes out, laundry unfolded, papers left on the counter and bathrooms still needing a scrubbing and ran for the craft room.
My mentor Mama was right. Crafting feeds my soul. It always has. I've been gluing, cutting, sewing, crocheting, stitching, painting, drawing or designing my entire life. Just ask my Mom. It drove her crazy at times! Love you Mom. Thanks for putting up with me :)
I picked up my scissors, plugged in the glue gun and turned my sewing machine on. It's been GREAT to be back. I'm working on some super girly, bright, fun, polka dotty and ruffly accessories. They'll be in the Etsy shop soon.
So, what do you do for YOUR me time? Is it crafting and creating like me? Reading a book? Taking a nap? Exercise? Eating? (Oh wait, maybe that's just me. Yep, right next to my sewing machine you will find a red Fiesta Ware ramekin that is always full of Costco's Ambrosia Chocolate chips. You know. Just in case of a chocoholic attack.)
Seriously though, I'm curious what other Mama's do for their ME time.
Spill it...
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! **
I am one hundred shades of happy right now.
Just found out my Brother and Sister-in-law have just met THEIR NEW DAUGHTER!
In ETHIOPIA.
Yep, they have met the sweet baby girl that they will take home to be theirs. So very exciting, God is SO good. Yep, she is my second Ethiopian niece/nephew. The joy doesn't stop there. We have ANOTHER brother and sister-in-law who are on the waiting list for THEIR baby girl too! Our family is growing by leaps and bounds!
Just finished booking an AWESOME hotel deal (with an indoor heated pool for Mr. Energy to swim in) in a few weeks to go and meet our NEW NIECE.
We will be waiting to welcome her home to her forever family in the airport baggage claim area. Love it. Love it all.
Just scheduled a late morning coffee date with a dear friend where I can squeal and gush all about my NEW NIECE.
God is GOOD...
A
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! **
