Follow the Leader

I just listed the newest design in the Baby Britches line called "Follow the Leader"

in my Etsy Shop.

Click here to see the listing

Little Lovelies

Earlier this summer, I accidentally found a house whose owners were setting up for a yard sale the next day. I stopped of course, I couldn't resist a preview to the sale. I hit the jackpot this time!

First, we found those huge tractor tire tubes. (which is probably the main reason my sweet husband was so eager to stop too) Now if you're not an avid river floater, you wouldn't have an appreciation for the gigantic tubes (as I was told by my sweet husband). There were 2 and they were full of air, which means there are no holes and they are just begging for some guy to come along and take them out for a float. And best of all, we picked them up for $5. That's a savings of at least $150. Now for the task of getting them home, lol.

Then I found a tote (one of those 18 gallon totes) full of vintage goodies. Of course, I had to have it all. It is rare that I have found something like this, because I live in a town where "seamstress" is just another hat that most mothers wear and they hoard their goodies. 5 minutes later, I was trying to find a place, in our already packed car, to stick my huge tote full of lovelies that I just picked up for $15! Yes fifteen bucks. I couldn't wait to get home and sift through the pounds and pounds of vintage lace, and notions of all kinds. There were even some wonderful surprises in there.

My sweet husband stopped over there again the next day and scored some great tools for pennies.

I've come to the conclusion that there two kinds of yard sales in our area....

People who are selling junk to make money and people who selling stuff to get rid of it.

The second is my first choice of course.

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Fab Finds

Here are a couple pics of some of the treasures I have found this summer in my search for treasure.

This was deffiantely a Victorian day, which is something that I have always adored, but never actually incorporated into my decor. I am under the impression that it was deffinately time to add a little "Victorian" into my daily dose.

This beautiful lamp is in almost perfect condition $3 and the lampshades (still wrapped) FREE!

I didn't have any lamps that were a good fit for these little shades, so I grabbed a couple vases out of the cupboard and stuck them in the hole. I plan to fill them with some type of goodies, I just haven't decide what yet. Any ideas?

Public Restrooms

My sister sent me this in an email and I had to share it with everyone. Have a great day.

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall. You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, however, because the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly, drape it around your neck because Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!

Finally, you yank down your pants, and assume ' The Stance.' In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold The Stance.'

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!' Your thighs shake more. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck). That will have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than the palm of your hand.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. 'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor. Now you lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet, of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper, not that there was any. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew. You're certain that her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, you just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.'

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl. Of course, that sprays a fine mist of water on your butt, which then runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in, too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you find in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks. You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting. You are no longer able to smile politely to them.

A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this.'

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?'

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restroom (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!)

It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

A change of pace......

Well, the fair went well. It was busy busy, but I did get a chance to check out some of the items entered. It was exciting to see how many talented locals there are around here. Even the children are spewing talent.

There were some spectacular photos and art exhibits, as well as veggie art and the quilting exhibits were tdf! Lots of wood works and even a skate park made out of Legos.

I took home one first place and on second place ribbon on my photos. I was excited and reassured. Thanks to all of the kinds words and support in my steps toward growth.

School started today and we always try to get away before school starts, so we took the the camper out for a few days of quiet time. We waited for the weekend to end and most of the campers had to go back to work. So we had the place all to ourselves for 3 whole days! The kids played in the creek until they couldn't stand it any longer, we lounged enjoying the cool breeze as it renewed our tired souls. I can't tell you how nice it was to get out of this heat and enjoy some cool refreshing air. We even had to turn on the heater one night, because it got chilly.

And my little one has officially joined the terrible two's, although, I think she joined them several months ago. We just had a birthday to make it official. We are still on our journey down the potty training road, but making progress. She speaks in sentences. She actually talks so fast, it makes it very hard to understand her and then you add her accent into the mix and she has her own language. She gets so frustrated when we don't know what the heck she is talking about.

I've also been slowly adding to my Etsy store again and I am working on some new things for fall and winter. Now that school is in, I have so many more hours in a day, my creative juices are flowing again and my state of mind is on the rise again! Yay!

Growing Pains

My palms were sweating and my heart was racing as I approached the fair ground buildings. I had my photos ready to submit, but were they good enough? Would people look at them and think to themselves, or worse, whisper to a friend, "What was she thinking? Does she actually think these are good?"

I pushed forward and entered the building against the will of my mind and body. After entering the building I see many others who are also entering their photos. They seem confident. Oh their photos are absolutely beautiful. "What am I doing here," I think to myself forcing my feet to take another step. "I am putting myself out there for judgement and against others who are obviously so much more experienced than me.

I take another step up to the table and begin the registration of my photos. My hands are shaking and I seem to have forgotten which category to list.

"Why am I so scared!" I scream to myself. I continue to fill out my stuff, as another participant approaches me. "Your photos are amazing" she tells me. At this point I am shocked, because she has what I would call an "amazing" photo.

Once again, I ask myself, "Why am I so scared?"

I proceed to enter the other photo and move on to enter my last photo into the agriculture contest. More compliments received.

By the time I left the building, I was exhilerated and yes still shaking.

I have come to the conclusion that I am nuts. My sweet husband assures me that I am not crazy, just a "sissy". Well, call me what you will, it was just crazy that I would be so afraid of something so simple.

However, I have trimphed. Whether I win or not, is not important. The important thing is that I conquered my fear. Well maybe not "conquered", but deffinately faced and

persevered! And second, I shared my fear with all of you. (which was not easy either)

From this I shall grow:)

Sincerely,

Mandy

Here are some snapshots of the three photos that I submitted. It was a painful process choosing only a couple, but at $8.00 a piece for printing, matting and such, I could only choose a few.

I'm stepping out...

......of my comfort zone that is. Tomorrow is the local County Fair and I have committed to enter two photographs and one into a local contest. This is scary, because I normally don't like to put myself out there asking for judgement, but hey I'll give it a try. I don't expect to win anything. I'm mainly trying to baby step my way out on a limb and stop being such a chicken;)

I will post the results after the fair next week, if you promise not to laugh.

I also decided to give Amelia's "Fashion Forward Friday" challenge a try.

The challenge was getting a photo of myself that I was willing to share with you.

With five kids, I need quick on the go lips. I almost always choose a shade of pink (of course).

For the days I feel like an updo, I use lip liner to line and lightly color in my lips and top them off with my favorite lip gloss .

Most days, my choice is my favorite Burt's Bees Pomegranate chapstick. It has a light shade of pink and is absolutely a must for scrumptious lips.

Poppers anyone?

I know it's summer, but these are still irresistable. When we make these, my sweet husband eats so many of them, it amazes me that he still likes them at all.

They are jalepeno peppers filled with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon.

First wash and slice your peppers lengthwise.

Clean the seeds out and fill with cream cheese.

*Use gloves because the pepper juice will get into your skin and burn. It will also get into your eyes or mouth even if you have washed your hands.*

Then wrap them in bacon. One slice per pepper half.

Place them on a microwave and oven safe dish and microwave on high for 13 minutes. This is the blanching process and very important or the peppers will be too hot to eat.

The bacon will cook slightly while in the microwave.

Preheat oven to 350. Remove poppers from microwave and pour off grease carefully.

Then cook them in the oven for 15 minutes or until bacon is crispy, but not burned.

Remove from oven and place on paper towel to absorb excess grease. Please allow them to cool a little, because they will burn your mouth. (believe me, I have tried them too soon)



Let me know how you like them.

Wordless Wednesday...... Scooters 101

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More Fabulous Auctions

With only a few days left in our guest launch, I couldn't resist showing you a few more of these fabulous auctions. Be sure to get them while you can.

Here are some adorable auctions from

Little*Shamrocks, Growing*up*with*Rosie, Rococo*Kids,

and Periwinkle*Twinkle

The Rewards

As I sift through my orders and try to get through another day of juggling, I look at pictures like this of sweet little angels wearing the stuff I made!

It takes me back to before I knew much about turning my children into models, the internet boutique fashion world, my self-taught crash course in photography, HTML, templates, frames, graphic arts, sleepless nights, and predicting the next big thing.

Back to the blissful days when I used my sewing machine and my creative mind for the simple outlet of creativity that was so therapeutic to me. My true love of the creation and seeing sweet little people jumping, giggling, and dare I say it.... playing in the stuff I make.

This is why I do this, oh and of course, there are those sweet people that I have made friends with along the way that keep me comin' back for more.

Thanks to my customer, friends, and the sweet little children that are my true inspiration and my love for this business.

Come check out the show

Remember earlier this week I told you that Children of the World was hosting an Asian Fashion Show?

Well, we have invited some very talented ladies to join us in our first ever guest launch and they have come up with some of the most adorable stuff!

I just had to share them with you. I think you will love them too.

Here are a few of the amazing designs from Luvnstitches, PaintedButterflyStudio, and GumDrop*Shop

Want to see more designs? Click here.

Thanks for letting me share. There are so many, I may post a few more next week!

Friendship Day

Happy Friendship Day to all of my friends online and offline.

It's not often

that you get to see who you look like. After reading Amelia's blog today, I decided to give this a try.

http://www.myheritage.com

My little artists

My children are all blessed with an artistic eye and they love to express themselves in some of the most creative ways.

While this may not be the most creative way to express themselves it is easier to remove than on the walls or floors (which I have plently of already).

I had to laugh when I caught my 3 year old coloring on my baby. I ask her why she has to draw on her sister. She replies simply, "I'm making her pretty mom!"

Well, what do I know anyway, I just mom!

Then a few days later, my 2 year old comes out of the bedroom sporting this....

I just laugh.

Worless Wednesday

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