Pumpkin Girl

Weirdest Estate Sale of 2011

2011-04-28T20:02:00.003-05:00

Wow. Let me tell you. This was pretty interesting, and really advantageous that I am completely and totally UNafraid of mice.

I was tipped off to this sale near my office by my coworker who is my Thrift Store Thursday co-conspirator. I walked in, and realized that it was 95% garage sale, 5% estate sale. This week is spring break week in our area, so the kiddies were home and they were having fun.

When I went to the kitchen to pay, this little mouse was running out from under the fridge out to where the kids had thrown chunks of Velveeta on the floor. They were patiently waiting to lure this little dude out with the cheese and they had their butterfly nets ready.

I don't think they succeeded in catching him, but the whole family seemed completely unfazed both by the fact that they had a mouse (or many mice...?) or by the fact that, during this event, their kitchen floor was littered with cheese. Hm. Anyway, it reminded me that I need to cultivate a zen mama perspective and not get too uptight about the (very) little things in life. Like mice. Here are some of my recent scores, although none from the "mouse house."

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T21:38:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T07:42:00.000-05:00

Newest Knitting

2011-04-12T20:18:00.002-05:00

Hi! I've been on blog hiatus, and it's been really nice, actually. I feel like I may possibly have something to talk about these days, and looking back on my blog over the last few years it's kind of fun to remember all the goings-on in our lives. Since moving to Wisconsin and hooking up with the Yarnivores (my local coffee-shop knitting clutch), life as a knitter has been great. I cannot tell you how much a difference it's made to have this group of ladies to shoot the breeze with and to go to with all my knitting dilemmas. They are also a wealth of ideas and patterns, so my list of knitting to-dos gets longer every week!

Here's a little something that's been on my list for a long time. It's called the Dottie Wrap, and a friend of mine knit one and I fell in love. Mine is not nearly as nice -- I'm actually really bothered that it curls on the edges and my blanket stitch isn't super perfect. However, it's done, and what is SO COOL about it is the vintage buttons along the top. Love that.

So, anyhoo, it's good to be back and hopefully I can keep updating this blog. It's a good outlet for me to babble on about what-nots and what-have-you. And I miss you all when I'm gone.

Who has time to blog?

2011-03-27T14:31:00.003-05:00

Geesh. I don't have time to do all the things I want to do. Boy is that stating the obvious, right? Who doesn't wish they had more hours in the day? Pretty much everyone needs to prioritize. Why I thought I could be excluded from that party, I'm not sure. Having two kids has made it abundantly clear that less is definitely going to have to be more. So here are the things that I'm thinking about cutting out of my life:

This blog; although it doesn't take a ton of time (or rather, I prioritize it way to the bottom and don't give it the time I would like to) but it does require some.
My handmade Etsy shop, Pumpkin Girl; this, too, does not take a ton of time (or rather, I can spend time on it when I want to) but it is a bit of a time commitment and I'm lacking inspiration lately.
Cleaning my house; I could opt to let it go entirely, or hire someone
Geez, there isn't anything that can go!

So, really, if I cut some stuff out I may feel more like a normal person who can like sit down and watch a little TV and do a little knitting. Or, there are about a dozen things I would love to ADD in, in place of what gets cut. Like exercise, cooking, baking, reading a book now and then, making stuff for myself and my kids...friends. But see if I cut something, and then add more in, then I'm kind of back here where I feel like I'm doing too much. Ah, 25th hour in the day (and 26th, 27th and 28th), where are you when I need you? Any recommendations? What do you do to fit all the things in your life that make you happy?

New Little Skully Hat

2011-03-08T19:56:00.003-06:00

I'm lucky enough to be welcoming lots of other people's babies (OPB) in the future, so I'll be knitting up quite a few little baby items as gifts. I used the Stitch N Bitch pattern for the umbilical cord hat for this one, and a chart from another Stitch N Bitch book for the little yellow skull. I've never knit in color (is that called intarsia??) before, so I had to watch a YouTube video to figure it out.

I love knitting for babies because it's usually so quick. I have such a short attention span! And, I think I also worry that I'll spend a bunch of time knitting a sweater only to have it turn out badly. I just don't have that time to waste, you know? I've got American Idol to watch, after all!

Thrifty Thursday

2011-03-03T19:57:00.003-06:00

Phew, it's been a busy thrifting week! Check out all my finds! I also found some adorable tulip Robeez for our little one, and some fantastic clothes for myself (although not vintage).

I heart Groupon

2011-02-23T07:23:00.003-06:00

In my quest to be more frugal this year, I signed up for Groupon. And Living Social. And some others. But it's not the coupons that have me swooning. Frankly, it's the writing at Groupon that has me hooked. Although I've purchased only a few Groupons, I read each one. Recently I saw that they were hiring freelance writers. They asked for applicants to write a sample Groupon based on a real company called Sea Kayak Georgia -- the deal was for a $25 Groupon for a guided tour. I though it would be fun to try my hand at writing a Groupon.[me, eating cupcakes, not writing or being witty whatsoever]

Finding yourself up a creek without a paddle might sound like a bad spot, but when you’ve got Sea Kayak Georgia’s seasoned guides and naturalists by your side, you’re in good hands. Use today’s Groupon — $25 for a half-day tour (a $55 value) — to amaze your friends with your command of Pirate lingo and tales of adventures at sea. Sorry, at this time the offer is not available to swashbucklers, crimps, scurvy dogs, hornswagglers, or scallywags.

From landlubbers to those firmly planted on sea legs, Sea Kayak Georgia has been offering paddling adventures amidst the beauty and majesty of the George coast, Tybee Island, and the inland rivers of south Georgia since 1994. Grab your mateys and choose from a relaxing river ride or an exhilarating day on Coastal Georgia’s warm waters and rollicking waves. A paddling trip is an experience that won’t soon be forgotten, especially if you drop your camera in the water or fall face first in the sand as you step out of your kayak. Best yet, Sea Kayak Georgia can customize tours for groups such as scouts, schools, corporate teams, and families.

Discover the joy, fun, and relaxation kayaking offers. Sea Kayak Georgia owners Marsha Henson and Ronnie Kemp reside on Tybee Island and are certified instructors in sea kayaking and canoeing. With such knowledgeable owners and staff, who knows what sort of sunken treasure may be discovered. Get ready to set sail and discover your inner skimmer.

How do you think I did? Should I apply?

Knitting Dresses for Babies and Girls

2011-02-18T19:05:00.003-06:00

I found this adorable vintage girl's dress pattern in a book I picked up at the thrift store this week. I fell in love with the white edging and the buttons down the front. I haven't knitted any dresses yet, so I'm super excited to get started.

I scanned in the pattern but I'm not sure you'll be able to use it...

So I hunted for some other free knitting patterns for dresses for babies and girls. Now I have my work cut out for me!
Here are my current favorites:

Little sister's dress (ravelry.com free download)
DROPS wrap dress
Bliss Dress
Skull Jumper
Impress Dress
Topaz

Do you have any recommended girl dress patterns to recommend? As if I need any more...

Thrifty Thursday

2011-02-17T07:36:00.001-06:00

I had to change the title of this series because this week, it's all about a fabulous estate sale and not about a thrift store. I hit this sale during my usual Thursday lunch hour, and although I got completely lost, managed to make it back to work on time. Phew! If any of you are looking for gift ideas for me, I think a GPS is in order as I got totally lost on my way to an estate sale today, too. Anyway, here's last week's score!

Gorgeous rabbit fur earmuffs

"Chicken legs" bright yellow thigh high stockings new in the package

Gorgeous vintage velvet beaded jacket

Super awesome teal and navy poncho with fringe

Long patchwork hippie skirt

Beaded foldover clutch (SOLD)

Black velvet pageboy knickers with buttons at the knee

Great bold floral print long hippie skirt

Any great buys in your area this week? I hit a thrift store today and got the cutest vintage knitting pattern book. I'll scan the girl's dress I want to knit for a post for another day. I guess that was the one bonus of getting lost...I found my way back by my awesome thrift-dar (or should I say that I can navigate based on the fact that I know how to get to or from almost any thrift store in town...scary!).

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T21:35:00.002-06:00

Save-o-rama rama

2011-02-11T07:15:00.001-06:00

This year, I've set out to save money. Normally I feel like I'm half tightwad, half impulsive shopper. I'm trying to give the angel on my shoulder a little more airtime this year, and silence the devil with "but I have bills to pay off, dammit!" And won't it feel good to pay them off. My hubby and I are extremely good with our money, but everyone can leave further below their means. And, I have this crazy dream that some day, we can be totally and completely debt free, including our mortgage(s).

If you want to read about people making incredible sacrificing to reduce their debt, right now is a great time to be looking. My favorite blog is Chasing the Fire, because, well, this family has made some seriously admirable moves to pay off a huge amount of debt. It seems like everyone is on budget-watch these days, and it's kind of refreshing to me. I thought I might share some ideas I've gathered up from all my thrifty friends and start to share them here. So here's my first installment of Save-o-rama rama!

TIP 1: CUT OUT THE CABLE
Cable for us was an obvious "first luxury to go" item. We don't watch a ton of TV, so we wouldn't really miss it. Not to say that I didn't LOVE having a DVR for the first time, or compulsively watch American Pickers, Storage Wars, Millionaire Matchmaker, Auction Kings and other gems of the cable dial, but I can do without it. And our little pumpkin, who loves Chuggington, Handy Manny, and other cable friends, can too. Who knows, maybe it will force us to go outside more, or play more games as a family.

Instead of cable, we opted for a Wii with streaming Netflix. Here's how the savings breaks down:

--Cost of cable TV = $50/mo. or $600/yr.
--Cost of Wii = $140
--Cost of streaming Netflix = $8/mo. or $96/yr.

Total annual savings = $364 (plus we get to keep the Wii!)

Now of course we also did not HAVE to have the Wii, or streaming Netflix. But it took the sting away of having to give up something we did kinda like. And $364 paid toward a bill is not too shabby for something we now don't really miss at all! We have plenty of movies and cartoons to keep the whole pumpkin crew completely satisfied.

Next installment: crazy coupon lady!

Are you paying off your debt? What are you doing to save this year?

Thrift Store Thursday

2011-02-10T20:26:00.001-06:00

For this installment of Thrift Store Thursday, I'm going ski crazy despite the predication by Puxatawny Phil that we're expecting an early winter. I'm showcasing something that came from a thrift store ages ago. It's this amazing patriotic ski sweater made by Bemiji Woolen Mills. According to their website, they've been in business for 90 years and now it's being run by the fourth generation. The company was apparently started in 1920 to make clothes for the Minnesota logging industry.

I'm not a skier, but I have enough snow in my yard to need a pair of snowshoes. And I really love the look of ski wear, especially this amazing women's ski shirt, and this adorable sweater with skiers.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

This Cowgirl Wants to Git On Down the Road

2011-02-04T07:16:00.000-06:00

Remember my friend Sonya? She's raising money to fund her artistic endeavors to travel the world and photograph and write about everything. Yeah, well this is us as teenagers getting the ubiquitous "western photo" taken, I'm assuming at Great America. Didn't these seem really popular back in the 70s and 80s? Everyone had a photo of themselves and their friends or family dressed up in some western clothes, pistol and cowboy hat included, with scowls on their faces? I founds some really cool ones on this Flickr set, so maybe it'll come back into fashion.

Anyway, I digress. Sonya has a new video about her efforts. You should check it out, it's cute. You can see she's sold everything she owns. Scary! But she's sacrificing her comfort for the sake of experience. So cool!

If you know someone who might be able to contribute a bit to her efforts, please spread the word. She's not quite halfway yet, and her deadline is March 8. If she doesn't meet her fundraising goal, all of the money pledged so far is returned and the 86 backers and I am not sure how she'll make her dream come true. Even $1 is not too little. Thanks, ya'll!

Thrift Store Thursday

2011-02-03T20:17:00.003-06:00

Today's collection of vintage finds comes right out of Mr. Pumpkin's closet. His mom had stashed away all these awesome tees from his childhood and of course me, being the hoarder, stashed them away in my own little box of goodies.

He's got little league shirts, shirts from his big biking adventures with his dad called SAGBRAW, and some from vacations.

Some of Mr. Pumpkin's tees made great scores for me, but others are going to be restashed, or passed along to another lucky Etsy shopper.

We got snowed in this week so I didn't get to do my usual thrifting. But I'm hopeful that next week will be balmy and beautiful!

Ultimate Best of Guide to Minneapolis/St. Paul Thrift Stores

2011-01-31T18:05:00.004-06:00

I don’t live in Minnesota, and therefore, providing a thrift store guide to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area does not infringe on my own territory. So, without further ado, I now present you with the best-of-the-best thrift store guide to the metro area (hope I’m getting this to you in time, Lisa!). Now, keep in mind this list is not exhaustive. For that, my favorite resources is thethriftshopper.com, which is a user-input source for all charitable secondhand stores in the country.

TOP 4 THRIFT STORES:

1. Unique. Two locations I like: County Rd. D and Rice St. in St. Paul. Extremely crowded at all times. Can be overpriced. Best feature is Rice St.'s vintage section and the fact that they are constantly adding inventory. Best score: LOTS of vintage clothes and cheap kids books.

2. Hidden Treasures. In Nordeast, hidden in a strip mall. Very neat and organized, friendliest staff ever. Best score: a brand new Radio Flyer tricyle for $10.

3. Arc's Value Village. On Winnetka in New Hope and Brooklyn Blvd. in Brooklyn Center. Usually very organized. The Brooklyn Blvd. location has lots of collectibles and designer purses (if you're into that). Best score: Also great vintage clothing on a special rack in the back of the New Hope store.

4. Bibles for Missions, 4713 36th Ave. N, Crystal, MN. Call before you go. Pretty sure they have weird hours and are definitely not open Sundays. Love the little ladies that work there. Best score: honestly don't remember. I know I've scored lots of weird knick knacks, but nothing sticks out specifically.

The best things about thrift stores in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area:

• No sales tax on clothing
• Plenty of winter gear if you are in the market for it — boots, hats, coats, etc.
• A wide variety of shops from mega-stores like Savers and Goodwill to awesome hole-in-the-wall joints
• No matter where you live, there is one near you (seriously…there were two within walking distance of my old place)

The worst things about thrift stores in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area:
• It’s a big city, so you gotta be on your game to compete with the crowds
• I’m not a huge Savers/Goodwill fan, and those make up a huge portion of them
• Because the city is so spread out, you can drive a long way to get from one to the next
• As with everywhere, thrift stores have started to try to get smart about what things have a little more value; unfortunately, I find that prices are often ridiculously overblown

Minneapolitans and St. Paulites, did I miss any?

Thrift Store Thursday

2011-01-27T07:22:00.004-06:00

Ahh, the dead of winter. Good times. The temperature hit 25 this week and so I trekked outside for a mile walk on my lunch hour yesterday. It felt WARM! Seriously sick when you think of it. But 20 degrees or more above last weeks highs, so it's all relative. All this balmy weather got me thinking about garage sales. And you know what? When I checked Craigslist, I found TWO garage sales! Indoors, mind you, but garage sales nonetheless. So of course, I hit them up.

One was a total bust, but the indoor church sale proved pretty okay. I got a great sweater and a cute vintage tank, so I consider it a success.

Now, I am really looking forward to the return of estate sales, garage sales, church rummages and everything that will break me out of what could definitely become a thrift store funk if I keep hitting the same spots as regularly as I have been.

Speaking of which, a friend who reads my blog said I should post my favorite thrift stores. Hmmm. Isn't that kind of like divulging grandmas secret apple pie recipe? Dare I give out my most closely held secret? Will you all go rush out and pillage my hot spots? Or should I play nice and share? I could definitely give a pretty good run down for Milwaukee area, Madison area and even my old stomping grounds in Minneapolis. Should I?

Your Favorite Recipes of 2010

2011-01-24T18:01:00.000-06:00

This year, I've struggled to find time to do a lot of the things that I love to do. Now, I've never been that huge of a cook, but now that I have VERY limited time to be in charge of the cooking, it's like a privilege that's been taken away. I did try a few things, like cinnamon rolls, the lemon-basil martini, and lots and lots of things out of our very first real-deal vegetable garden.

I get asked to participate in lots of recipe exchanges, and I always feel a little lame having not much to contribute. I get most of my recipes online or out of my favorite Giada cookbooks. But, I would love to be better about recommending recipes, because I always get great ones in return.

So, I thought I'd try something new. Why not do a recipe exchange blog post? Tell everyone what's been cooking in your kitchen lately. I'd especially love to hear your simple (fast? slow cooked?) and kid-friendly recipes. So do share! You can link to your own personal recipe (post it on your own blog), or anywhere in the World Wide Web!

Breaded, Not Fried

2011-01-22T07:17:00.001-06:00

I love to bake, but I do get tired of all the sweets. What? Who am I kidding. I don't get tired of the sweets, but I know it's not good for us to eat so much. So I often branch out to bread. I tried the no knead recipe with good results. I also purchased the Tassajara Bread Book and went through the painstaking process of making it the "real" way with all the rising and punching and rising and kneading and all that.

But, I have found what I think is the "up my alley" bread baking book, perfect for a person like me with a short attention span and a busy life. It's the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. The theory is that you make up a big batch of dough and stick it in the fridge. You can use it for up to a few weeks to make just about anything from regular old bread to cinnamon rolls. So far we made only one loaf and it was not only delicious, but easy and beautiful to look at.

I got the book from the library, and unfortunately I have to return it soon. But before I do, I'm thinking about trying the bagel recipe. Have you ever made bagels from scratch? Is it worth the effort? What are your favorite bread recipes?

Playing Matchmaker

2011-01-21T07:29:00.013-06:00

Today I'm excited to participate in Kelly's Korner Blog "Show us your singles" day when people all over the country tell the world about a great guy or girl they know in hopes that a match can be made. Today I'd like to introduce my friend and coworker, Craig.

So here's the skinny on this eligible guy:
--Craig has strong Christian values and is involved in church activities
--He's 40
--This guy is outgoing, friendly and loves to hang out with his friends, especially if they're going out for seafood or Italian
--He grew up and lives in southeast Wisconsin
--Craig works in the financial industry
--His education is in Mass Communication and Psychology
--Music is a passion for him (listening versus playing)
--Sometimes he likes to inform us that whatever it is we're eating is really bad for us, which is an endearing quality -- he's really into being healthy and likes to work out and be active
--He's never been down the aisle (unless you're talking about the grocery store)
--He's funny
--He likes to travel (Seattle is one of his favorites)

Here's who he's looking for in that special lady:
--Strong Christian woman
--She likes to get dressed to go out, but is also comfortable hanging out in jeans and a sweatshirt (here's my interpretation: he's looking for someone who takes care of herself, but doesn't spend 4 hours getting ready to go out)
--She makes him laugh

Thrift Store Thursday

2011-01-20T07:06:00.000-06:00

Here's the latest scores from the thrift store. This week was all about vintage clothes for the ladies!

The plaid dress is by Pendleton, and it's in perfect condition. I wish it fit me, because it's so warm and fun! Pendleton is based in Portland, Oregon and has been weaving fabric there for 100 years.

My other favorite is the tennis jacket with the yellow stripes. If that doesn't sell in my Etsy shop, it's ALL MINE!

Who doesn't need a poodle skirt? This would be so fun to have in a little girl's dress-up collection. I can just see the twirling that would ensue!

This crazy plaid shirt is some sort of western wear. I don't know much about it, but it just appealed to me.

This great scarf I bought at Rummage-a-rama, and I think it's so cool but I have no idea if I'd wear it, or display it somehow.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-19T20:04:00.001-06:00

Thrift Store Thursday

2011-01-13T19:46:00.003-06:00

Wow, I am completely addicted to thrift shopping. It's an illness. Seriously.

I have ALWAYS been a thrift shopper. I have worked at thrift stores. But, it hasn't ever taken over all of my free time like it is now (my free time consists of my lunch breaks and one or two hours on the weekend if naps overlap...so I guess it's not like I spend 30 hours a week at Goodwill or anything...).

Here's my most recent scores. Some of these came from Rummage-a-rama at the WI state fairgrounds. You should go if you're local, it's great!

Why Being a Stay-at-Home Parent is Harder Than Being a Working Parent

2011-01-10T16:27:00.004-06:00

Now before you slay me with your rantings about how you work very hard and staying home is all trips to the zoo and eating bon bons while the kids nap, please know that I am also a working (outside the home) parent. I only know my own perspective, and that is one of a mama who goes off to my cubicle home every day. I leave my two kids home with the most hardworking, patient and loving man in the world: my husband.

If you had asked me who works harder -- a staying home parent or a working parent -- when we only had one, adorable, perfectly-behaved baby or toddler, I may have answered differently. I certainly came to work many, many days going "Seriously? They're taking a walk to the park today and I'm sitting through a 4-hour conference call?" But boy, have things changed. We now have an out-of-control toddler and an infant. Talk about a busy day-job!

My hubby calls me sometimes at work needing advice. Like "When I dropped him off at preschool, he was hysterical. Should I go back and get him?" or "He has completely destroyed his room and, oh, wait now he's just peed on the floor. How would you handle it?" or "I had to let the baby cry herself to sleep today so I could get him dressed to leave the house. In the end, I left him in what he wore yesterday and to bed last night. Is that okay?"

So at least I get a glimpse of the world at home when I'm not there. And I get to feel a little bit a part of the parenting choices. But really, I sit here in my cush office, eating a leisurely lunch filled with conversation about TV and what everyone's going to be up to this weekend. Meanwhile, he's trying to slap together something, anything that one will eat will simultaneously putting a bottle in the other. Those of you out there with 3, 4, 5 kids...how do you survive? How do you get through each day? Seriously, my husband needs to know. Could you shoot him an email?

Of course some days are better than others, but I just can't imagine a job harder than raising kids. They are one minute adorable, sweet, fun-loving huggers and the next urinating, screeching, fighting sassy-faces. Even my worst day at work does not involve cleaning up anyone else's soiled underpants, or explaining why it's not okay to go outside in 3 degree weather without a coat on.

So to my hubby, Mr. Pumpkin, I say: you are doing an amazing job, and you are a great dad. Even if some days you'd like to fire yourself and/or hire a nanny, or you feel like there's nothing at all graceful or admirable about what you're doing, you are awesome.

Happy 2011

2011-01-02T21:26:00.004-06:00

We rang in the new year English style. At 6 p.m. Central Time it was midnight in England so we did some research and found some cool British new year traditions we could celebrate. For example, we observed the tradition of "First Footing" by having "a dark-haired, handsome young man" (my son) be the first person in the door on new year's day (or just after 6 p.m. at our house) bearing coal (a stick), bread and salt. The items are supposed to bring warmth, food and money to those at the home.

Then, my nieces dropped egg whites into a glass of water and looked into the mixture to find the first letter of the man they would marry. Amazingly, the egg whites do form some interesting letter-looking shapes in water! So there's an "M" in one nieces' future and an "S" in the other's. And of course we had to have a little puzzle for the kids to try to match the funny Britishism to the picture, like hooter for nose, telly for television and biscuit for cookie. Good times!

We ate some awesome English foods, too. No bangers and mash, but we did have beer cheese soup with English ale. Yum! And we had a very nice, roaring fire (check out the great vintage log-getter I scored at a thrift store). It was very relaxing, right up until my toddler woke up at 11 p.m. and SCREAMED his head of like a maniac because he didn't want to go back to bed. And then there was the 2 a.m. wakeup call at my bedroom door from my sister, who was awoken in the basement bedroom to the sound of water pouring down from the kitchen -- caused by an overflowing dishwasher (or more likely all the leeks I had shoved down the garbage disposal earlier). Ugh. So the new year started a little rough, but I'm hoping it'll be looking up!

Did you rock in the new year? Did you make any resolutions?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-29T19:19:00.001-06:00

New House (New Life) Anniversary

2010-12-28T18:51:00.002-06:00

Exactly one year ago today, we signed on the dotted line. We took a big, scary flying leap and landed pretty much right where we wanted to. I was three months pregnant, the working mother of a toddler, and the proud owner of a new home in a new state. Oh, and I changed jobs to make this all happen. Did I mention that it was insane? Do I have to even go through all the emotions and excitement around our house? It was, in a word, a whirlwind.

Over the last 12 months, we’ve plodded along making the new house “our home” and doing all the typical things you do when you relocate – find the closest coffee shop (Starbucks), meet the neighbors (awesome), get acquainted with the area (5 minutes to the closest thrift store, 8 minutes to work, walking distance to Fleet Farm, biking distance to the pick-your-own-strawberry patch, and down the street from the park and school), etc. We’ve mourned the distance between us and our good friends. We’ve missed our favorite restaurants and gotten accustomed to living in the suburbs. We’ve noticed the subtle differences in “there” and “here” such as my new favorite expression: “stop and go lights.” Have you ever heard that one? Charming, I tell you. You betcha.

Now we’re embarking on something different, I think. Less exploratory, more formative. I mean forming a life where we are. And who we are – now a family of four. My oldest (“old” seems like the wrong word to describe a three-year-old) kiddo is in preschool a couple of mornings a week, the little one starting to eat “real food.” I’m settling into the new job. Daddy is settling into stay-at-home dadhood in the new ‘hood. I feel like this year, I have my focus back. Last year I just tried to get my feet under me and try not to let the new job/house/state/baby/lifestyle/friends get to me too much. This year, I’m thinking about some goals. It’s a fuzzy concept so far, but it just feels like a big year, begging for focus and intention.

You? Are you planning on making goals for 2011? Or how about New Year’s Resolutions? If you would, share! I need some inspiration.

A Friend's Search for Heartbreaking Beauty

2010-12-22T07:27:00.002-06:00

Growing up I had a few really close friends. One of them was Sonya. She had white-blonde hair and the most adorable smile. And one thing I remember about her all these years later is that she had the best art supplies and an insane amount of talent for a little girl. Did you ever have a friend like that? When she colored with colored pencils, it was like there was no white paper underneath. I swear she out-colored all of us, even in like first grade. And don't even get me started about the notes she passed me in high school or the handmade gifts (like the "How We Look Book" she gave me one year, full of photos of her family with hilarious little descriptions) or when she started entering (and of course, winning) photo contests in high school.

So it's no wonder that today she's a super talented artist, about to set out on the adventure of a lifetime. She's planning to spend a couple of years (YEARS!) wandering the globe documenting what she sees with photographs and writing. When she told me she was going, I started to think "Boy, am I lame." and then, "What's going on with everyone these days?" Didn't I just mention how I just recently ran across an acquaintance of mine who took his entire family (kids and all) on a year-long bike adventure to Mexico and blogged about the whole experience? What is it about right now that's causing people to pick up and take off like that? Or is this something that people have been doing forever and I'm just now catching wind of it?

Sonya says she's "sacrificing security for the sake of experience." She says it's not a new story. That lots of us get jobs to buy cars to drive to work to...wait...what are we doing? Why are we stuck in this grind?

I can see where she's coming from. "Regular" life gets kind of stagnant and you forget that you only get one chance at it, so you better make the best of it. I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of her freedom and I'm anxious to live vicariously through her for a while. She's already seen more of the world than I have, and she has an incredible eye for finding heartbreaking beauty.

She's looking for financial backers, if you can throw a buck or 20 her way, she'd be forever grateful (and I think there are perks to it, too!). If you have $750 to pledge, she will let you choose a location on her itinerary and she'll create a blog post with photos just for you. To learn more about Sonya and her project, check out her Kickstarter pledge pageand her blog, which has a ton of gorgeous artwork and writing.

I'll be checking in with her progress periodically, so c'mon back. Live vicariously with me!

Baby Doll Bed in Progress

2010-12-18T21:58:00.005-06:00

I've been a busy beaver lately. Cookies? Check. Knitting? Check. Gift wrapping? Check! Sewing? Check check!

Here's a sneak peek of what's in progress for my little peanuts baby bed. Now let's hope I can get it done in the next four days! So far I have the mattress cover, pillow and pillowcase done. And I'm getting closer on the quilt. My only problem is I can't remember how to do a quilt binding. I think I've only done it once or twice...any tips??

Thrift Store Thursday

2010-12-16T21:44:00.001-06:00

This week I had to forego Thrift Store Thursday due to an office holiday party and “ugly Christmas sweater” contest. I was disappointed about not going thrifting, but excited about the fact that I got to wear one of my stashed ugly sweaters. I even brought an extra with me and my coworker wore it. Not to worry, though — not a week goes by here where I don’t get a chance to hit up at least one thrifty sale.

Last weekend, we headed to Granny and Grampy’s house hoping for some good times and a little “date night” action. We had very low expectations on the date night (or date day, for that matter) as my littlest pumpkin has been suffering from stranger danger for about two months. It started with being afraid of anyone but daddy, and now at least mommy is in the “in crowd” but no one else. Even looking at her from too close a distance was a recipe for that sweet little bottom lip to start to slide out like a tectonic plate.

But, as if a switch had been flipped, Friday the stranger danger ended. And thank God! Hubby and I got some good, quality alone time, finally (otherwise known as “time to go to the thrift stores together, without anyone begging for a toy or spending an hour in the toy department trying to ravage everything in sight). And after the kids were in bed, we even had dinner together. Out! Alone! With no interruptions! Ah, life is good!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-15T19:39:00.002-06:00

Thrift Store Thursday

2010-12-09T19:20:00.002-06:00

This week, my big finds were for me. That's unusual for me but kind of a nice change. I didn't photograph it, but one of my biggest scores was a hand knit blanket in off white that's just gorgeous. It's currently snuggling up on my couch, looking wintery and festive.

I had fun hitting my favorite thrift store with one of my favorite coworkers and now I can't believe we didn't start Thrift Store Thursday earlier. It's getting me through my weeks!

Last week I mentioned that one of my finds almost brought me to tears, and here it is. It's an adorable doll bed for my sweet little girl. When I brought it up to the register the volunteer behind the counter (this is one of those independent church thrift stores that are the best kind, in my opinion) said it had been her donation and had originally belonged to her mother. She told me the story of it and that it had been played with by three generations of her family. Yes, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It's absolutely perfect for my sweet baby girl, who *may* be getting a doll for Christmas. And now I have my work cut out for me making the perfect pillow and mattress and quilt for it.

Have you found anything great at the thrift store lately?

Merry Making

2010-12-07T21:13:00.004-06:00

We're getting excited for the season around here, especially with a new blanket of snow on the ground. Here are a few new scenes from our house.

I love putting up our old-timey 1960s aluminum pom pom tree, called "The Sparkler" -- and this year our tot got to help, too. Until this year he's been more of an un-decorator than a decorator, but this year was great. Even though lots of the ornaments all got clustered right together on the same branch, it turned out great.

And our little village is charmingly hodge-podge and not quite right, with masses of cords hanging down. But we adore it anyway.

Thrift Store Thursday

2010-12-02T19:03:00.005-06:00

This week was all about Christmas. From cool ornaments to little deer to a great granny square stocking. Here's what I scored.

Unfortunately everything has already sold in my vintage shop except this adorable little angel.

Did you hear that there's going to be a show about thrift shopping on PBS? Here's a little snippet about it. I have never heard of Alexa Chung (I'm from the un-cool Midwest, apparently) but it sounds like she's going to be coming from a fashion angle. I'll still watch it, but I can honestly say I'm not all that interested in learning how to dress like a hipster. But like I said, I'll give the show a try.

This week I bought something for my sweet little baby girl. It almost brought tears to my eyes when I found it. I'll tell you why next Thursday!

Good Gifting: For Girls

2010-11-26T12:22:00.003-06:00

I have two little nieces who I love to buy gifts for. But as they get older, it gets harder. They are in the age range between "little girl" and "tween" and I fear dollies will soon give way to other things, like makeup, hair accessories and things like that. Do you shop for girls like my nieces? Tell me, what are they getting this year?

I put together some ideas
Memory Board
Doll Bed
Doll Bedding
Shrinky Plastic
Felt Slippers
Mod Podge Hangers
Hair Clip Organizer
Handmade Barrettes

'Gifts for Kids 5 - 12 (and under $50!)' by pumpkingirl

Elementary school age kids are hard to buy for. So here's a little gift guide to help you get your shopping done!

BEDDING for American Girl or... shoppr88 $18.00	Hand painted mirror - Blonde... SandraEterovic $45.00	12 Personalized Modern Geome... TwoPoodlePress $14.00	Create your own Plush Kit t... MissyBallance $15.00
Funky Sketch Pad - personali... TerriTaylorDes... $6.75	Kisse Girl Lip Gloss and Lip... kissegirl $5.00	Shooter, Slingshot Combo BackwoodsToys $15.45	Potholder Weaving Loom Craft... woolhandcrafts $12.50
Triple D Marshmallow Shooter... BigDaddyImages $17.50	HAND HELD ACOUSTIC BEAT BOX AllNaturalAcco... $44.95	501 Custom Poodle Skirt Out... terristouch $22.25	Toadstool Skittles - Mushroo... MuddyFeet $28.00
LEMON BALL Vintage style lem... LemonBall $30.00	CUSTOM MONOGRAM WITH FLOWER ... glasshousecout... $19.00	ONE yo yo - do it yourself p... goosegreaseund... $3.00	SOAP Realistic Xbox, Green A... Digitalsoaps $15.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Don't have time to craft? Check out my Etsy Treasury!

Thankful

2010-11-25T10:57:00.003-06:00

Here's what I'm thankful for this year, from strange to serious in no particular order:
1. My new "eco phone" that doesn't die constantly and has shown me that texting isn't "just for kids"
2. My good health and the health of those around me
3. Seattle's Best Cinnabon coffee
4. The fact that it hasn't snowed yet in Wisconsin, but it has in MN (re-affirming my decision to move)
5. Our beautiful house that isn't drafty, has two (TWO!) nice bathrooms and has an amazing yard for playing
6. Did I mention the coffee? Any coffee, really, but especially that kind
7. The Etsy vintage shop I share with my mom, and particularly the fact that hubby is participating in the fun
8. My family, some closer, some farther, but always close to my heart
9. Getting better sleep (thanks, baby Pumpkin!)
10. A new (for us) car that has heat AND air conditioning AND sun visors AND the windows roll down...
11. My craft room
12. My knitting friends (hi Yarnivores!)
13. My MN friends (hi MH, WM, EM, OP and all my sweeties!)
14. Having time to bake on occasion
15. Having nice neighbors

The list could go on, but I'll spare you. I would love to hear what you're thankful for. Post a comment and share what's on your list!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-24T07:41:00.001-06:00

Happy Movember

2010-11-23T18:47:00.001-06:00

What's Movember, you ask? Well, let the Movember Foundation About Movember page answer that in detail for you. In short, men and women around the globe are growing moustaches. For a good cause! Yes, you heard me -- growing moustaches for a higher purpose than just looking cool. I ask, "Are you growing that moustache to be an ironic hipster, or are you raising awareness of men's health issues?" If you're into Movember, it's the latter.

I have to say I LOVE this idea. I found that a blog I like to visit, Natural Papa, has been participating by creating a 'stache video every day this month. Then I found out that one of my coworkers is doning the 'stache, too. What better way to start a conversation than casually waltzing into the office sporting a moustache?

If you'd like to support these worthy causes, such as LIVESTRONG and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, click the link above and donate today.

Thrift Store Thursday

2010-11-18T20:03:00.001-06:00

This Thursday was just as successful as last Thursday when we visited a great church thrift store nearby. I scored some stuff to sell in my Etsy shop, like the "Egg Man" perpetual calendar and some gorgeous rhinestone earrings, but more importantly scored some stuff for moi (and the little pumpkins).

I got two amazing framed items for my bare walls! One is a great oval-shaped vintage still life with fruit. The other is a pretty botanical print, albeit in a kind of ugly frame. My walls are thanking me!

For my little ones I got a ton of awesome Thanksgiving and Christmas books and a really great Disney Christmas album with Mickey and the gang on the front. My favorite item is definitely my still life, though.

This week I squeezed in an estate sale and Thrift Store Thursday. Next week I'll give an update on all my loot! Yay!!!

Whatcha finding at the thrift stores lately? Anything great? I really want to find a red and white enamelware pitcher out there, so if you find one grab it for me.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-17T07:14:00.000-06:00

Only 5 More Weeks...? OMG!

2010-11-14T19:10:00.001-06:00

I heard today that there's only five weeks until Christmas. I think someone is using new math. It can't really be that close, can it? Well, whatever. I'm already in the spirit, anyway, so other than the fact that I have a lot of craft projects to fit in that window, I'm okay with it.

I hit Michael's this weekend for some supplies for Tiny Pumpkin's Christmas gift (more to come on that later) and ran into these awesome sparkly doo-dads on 40% off sale. Don't they spruce up this deer planter nicely? Can't wait to find a home for this...after Thanksgiving at least.

Say hello to our new friend FIRE!

2010-11-12T20:31:00.003-06:00

Our house came with an ugly, non-working Franklin Stove and a woodburning fireplace that filled our basement with smoke. That simply was not working for me. I LOVE a good fire in the cold months, and we unfortunately lost several trees this year, so we have plenty of firewood.

Well today, thanks to a little help from my parents (love you mom, dad) we welcomed a new family member to our house - a remote-controlled gas fireplace for our basement. And we have a nice working wood fireplace upstairs now. Just in time, too, because I just heard it said that we can expect some of the white fluffy stuff around these parts next week. Ahh...

Now, for the weirdest part. When we crawled back behind the old stove, we discovered a treasure trove! Prophylactics and beer bottles! Oh the stories this house could apparently tell!

Thrift Store Thursdays

2010-11-11T20:40:00.006-06:00

I found a couple of thrifty coworkers and have talked them into a weekly lunch hour trip to the thrift store. We're calling it Thrift Store Thursdays. So I present to you the weekly take. FUN! Most of this has actually already sold in my Etsy shop. This week's scores are mostly my own, though. More to come on that next week!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-10T07:26:00.001-06:00

Got Sock Yarn? Make Doll Mittens!

2010-11-09T19:19:00.002-06:00

I posted a while back that I'd be making some doll clothes for my nieces who are totally into their American Girl dolls. Well, let the fun begin. I'm using up sock yarn like a madwoman using this pattern for mittens. I've got tons of sock yarn to use up, so maybe next I'll move to the tiny socks. Wheee! Already crafting for Christmas. Maybe this means I'll actually finish what I hope to...?

Fun with Paint and Canvas

2010-11-08T19:57:00.001-06:00

The thought of my three-year-old and splattering paint originally gave me a bad case of hives. But when I replayed the story in my head again, only with a slighly rosy tone, it all worked out great. And oddly enough, in reality, it all worked out great! How often does that happen?

I realized I've lived in my "new" house almost a year now, and still have lots of bare walls. That's what prompted me to run out to Michaels and pick up some cheap artist canvas for a fun little project with the Pumpkin Boy. Not that I wouldn't LOVE to buy this or this or this from some of my favorite Etsy sellers but, well, money doesn't grow on trees and so I opted for the homemade art option.

Canvases were 40% off so this one was about $13. Then we hit Menards (like a local Home Depot or Lowes) and picked up paint samples (little jars, perfect size for this project) in three colors. Those ran about $3 each. So for under $25 we have this awesome artwork for our office. One thing I should not have done -- but I'm a control freak and can't help myself -- is I did kind of steered him toward these colors. I really should just take a deep breath sometimes. But now that I know how fun this is, I think we'll make a few more and next time he can pick the colors without steering from me.

We took our supplies home and then Pumpkin Boy and I went about dripping our paint on our canvas. We took turns, and it was really a lot of fun. I had to help him not mix the paints together (a natural instinct, I think), but otherwise he was a pro at picking up one brush at a time and watching the paint drip all over. At a few points he dripped such a huge gob on that we had to pick up the canvas and let the drip slide a little, but that made it all the cooler looking, I think.

Have you ever tried a project like this with your kids? Do share, because I'd like to do more. How about decoupage? Is it a huge mess? I was thinking it'd be fun to have him cut up paper and decoupage it on the canvas, then drip paint over the top...we'll see if we ever get there.

Knit Tee Goodness

2010-11-05T20:14:00.002-05:00

A sweater with short sleeves seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it? I mean, your body and shoulders are nice and snuggly, but what about your poor elbows? Your wrists? Well, I've discovered the joy of the knit t-shirt. And amazingly, discovered that I can complete a knitting project that takes more than one or two sittings. Eureka! I have an attention span, after all. My first sweater project was unfortunately completed before my friends from Yarnivores (my knitting gang) helped me figure out checking my gauge.

I knit this little wonder in anticipation of being without a massive 8-months-pregnant belly *someday* in the future. And whadda ya know, someday came! Of course the belly is not as flat as it was, say, 12 months ago, but it's darn fine to me. It's just one of those things moms deal with. Not that I've ever met a mom who isn't kind of bugged by it, but whatever. Babies are worth it.

After I spent agonizing months knitting this thing, wondering "Will I ever finish this?" I found another great short sleeve sweater that I want, the Leaf Tee Shirt (below). Go figure. Now I'll have not one but two short sleeve sweaters. Who knows, maybe I'll next knit myself a bikini, or some sunglasses. I'll have a whole summer wardrobe of knits. But really, I love the short sleeve sweater and I think it's perfect for Fall. I think you should knit one right away. Because they'd also be great for Spring, and someday maybe 9 months from now or so, Spring will come, too. Here are some other great options for the knit tee:

St. James Sweater (what I knit)
Leaf Tee Shirt
Embroidered Cap Sleeve Top
Drops Top
Wright Drape Top
Tempting
Wren
Siesta
Mangyle

Where Have All the Leaves Gone?

2010-11-04T06:44:00.002-05:00

My toddler is in complete denial about the end of summer. He asks every.single.day whether it's a "long sleeve day" or a "short sleeve day" even though the answer has been "long sleeve day" for at least three weeks consistently now. So, in rebellion, he asks me to roll his sleeves up. When he puts his pajamas on at night he pulls the pantlegs up to his knees, presumably turning them into shorts. The footie pajamas are never chosen. The winter jacket is refused mighily.

Who can blame him, really? Even though I go on and on (and on) at length about how great Fall and Winter are, do I really mean, "Oh, I know, I'd rather be in shorts and tee shirts, too. Sucks, doesn't it? It'll be a long, cold time before we see shorts again!"

Well, I at least partly believe in the joy of the season. I do admit that Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays, and it's a known fact that I could spend the entire season locked indoors fattening up anyone who comes near with all the baked goods I'd happily crank out. And the holiday decorating and crafting? Absolutely my favorite. Going outside in the cold? Not so much.

Last weekend I braved the cold (okay, more like slightly cool) weather to take my Wee Pumpkin out for a "nature walk." Unlike his boy counterparts the world over who LOVE to play outside regardless of the weather, this boy has wanted to be inside playing for MONTHS. I had to talk him into going, mostly, I think, because of the wardrobe requirements (hat, mittens, jacket, pants pulled down from their position around his knees).

Once we got there, and I helped him see the fun in being outside, he got it. I ventured off the nature trail, overturning logs, peeling bark off decaying trees, examined mushrooms -- basically acted like some other person -- until he started to follow suit. And you know what? I think he liked it! He and I started to notice things, like the fact that not a single leaf had managed to cling to a single tree after our crazy wind storms of a few weeks back. Or how old stumps get soft and squishy and you can leave your footprint in them if you step down hard enough.

I'm glad we broke the ice and got outside. I'm glad we braved the winter gear. Because if I'm stuck inside with this child until next April, I may just go insane.

Have you gotten outside lately?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-03T20:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T14:10:00.004-05:00

We're all jittery around here just waiting for trick or treating to begin. Last year we froze our tooshies off, so we're hoping this year is not so cold. I have already been informed that the costume I made for my son -- oh, yes, the one he's been talking about for a month -- is not going to be worn. He wants nothing to do with it. Ah, such is the disposition of a three-year-old, I guess.

I made this felt wreath for my friend in Iowa who has a birthday a couple of weeks before Halloween. Her tot is going as the UPS guy and she's a package. Why couldn't I have come up with something clever like that?!

Oh well, I am still looking forward to eating candy and carving pumpkins and taking the kiddos out and about. Yippee!

Have a spooky one!

Roasted Pumpkin and Squash Seeds a la Pumpkin Girl

2010-10-29T10:16:00.003-05:00

There's a few things I love about Fall, and one of them is being able to turn on the oven again. In fact, it's so cold now that I can't wait for an excuse to turn it on and take the chill off the house. Breads, treats, pumpkin seeds...they've all been cranking out of my kitchen lately.

Most of you probaby already know that my nickname, Pumpkin Girl, comes from the fact that growing up my family ran a small pumpkin farm. We had somewhere around an acre of pumpkins that we hauled up to our driveway every October and organized into nice piles according to size. The money we made helped both my sister and I through college. We also got pretty good at carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds. My sister definitely excels at the carving, me at the roasting.

Here's my favorite way to make pumpkin or squash seeds. First, you need to clean them up. Make sure you get all the stringy stuff off and give them a good bath. Then, set them out on some aluminum foil to dry out for a day or so. When they're ready, mix up your "secret sauce." Now that I'm revealing the secret recipe, I guess I'll have to rename the sauce. Okay, let's call it the "super sauce." This should work for a fairly well covered cookie sheet.

2 T. butter, melted in the microwave
2 T. worchestershire sauce
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder

Mix up your sauce and pour it over the seeds. Bake at 350 for 10 - 15 minutes. If you start to hear a popping sound coming from your oven, it's time to take the seeds out. These will keep okay in a bowl at room temperature for a few days if you don't eat them all (yeah, right). Cover them with plastic wrap.

What other treats are you enjoying this Halloween?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-27T20:02:00.002-05:00

My Life is Scaring Me

2010-10-22T07:45:00.000-05:00

Do you ever pretend you're someone else? Or meet someone and think, "Damn, how cool would it be to be her?" Well, I do that alot. I've been doing it for years. I envy people who do their own thing, like open up a cool business or take their family on a year-long bike adventure. I've always wished I could be a stay at home mom and really learn to excel at just raising healthy, happy kids. I pretty much envy every single woman on earth who isn't a regular ole working stiff like me.

There are so many other people I'd like to be besides myself, that sometimes I spend weeks in a fantasy world, imagining what life could be. Working in a cubicle full time isn't usually part of this daydream, so when I come to, it's a harsh reality illuminated by florescent lights that stings like a paper cut. Is it healthy? I'm not sure. Can it be helped? Probably not.

I keep telling myself how much I have to be grateful for. A hubby that stays home with the kids. A good, stable job that puts food on our table. A nice place to live. Unfortunately, that angel on my shoulder is a low talker, and the devil on the other side has a megaphone. And this devil keeps saying, "You are better than the cubicle! Break free from the cubicle!"

So what's a girl to do? Sit happily in the cubicle? Daydream to make the days go by? Or become the people I envy -- quit my day job and take my family by bicycle around the continent? Well, what would you do? What keeps you going when you wish you could trade your life for someone else's?

And now, to add levity to the conversation, let me tell you a little story. As I sat with my 3-year-old the other night, in the hour or two between when I get home from work and when they go to bed, I learned a powerful lesson. This was the conversation:
Tot Pumpkin: "Mom, here." [handing me something]
Me: "What is that?"
Tot Pumpkin: "Here, you have it."
Me: "What is it, honey?" [starting to hold out my hand]
Tot Pumpkin: [no comment]
Me: "Where did it come from?" [as he deposits thing into my hand]
Tot Pumpkin: "My nose."

Yes, I was handed a booger. To which I thought, yeah, well, sometimes life hands you boogers. And you just wash your hands and get on with it.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-20T07:39:00.001-05:00

Vintage Melmac + Fabric = CUTE!

2010-10-19T20:27:00.002-05:00

I hit upon a cute and simple project this week. Eureka! I had some vintage Melmac cups around the house from my obsessive trips to the thrift stores during my maternity leave. I decided they needed to be "upcycled" into something useful, as our house simply doesn't need any more teacups.

To make these adorable pincushions, simply cut a circle out of fabric roughly the size of a dinner plate. Sew around the outer edge of the circle to gather it up. Stuff the inside with some batting and pull your stitch tight, sewing up the hole so your batting doesn't escape. It doesn't need to be pretty because it won't show. Then get some heavy duty craft glue and paint the inside of your cup with glue. Smoosh your little puffball cushion inside and wait. I glued my adornments on, but if you wanted to sew on vintage buttons or ribbons, just do so while you still have a nice, flat round piece of fabric (before you sew around the perimeter).

I think these will make fun little throw-ins at Christmas this year. I can't wait to whip up a whole bunch for my friends and my Etsy shop! Now to find the time...!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-13T06:50:00.000-05:00

American Girl

2010-10-12T06:48:00.001-05:00

My grandma Betty got me into American Girl dolls. I was never a doll kind of girl, but she loved dolls and had one that looked like each of her daughters and granddaughters. My likeness is named Lindsey, the first ever American Girl doll of the year from 2001. My grandma passed away about five years ago and I keep little Lindsey at my house now. She's got curly brown hair just like me. I think American Girl originally started in Middleton, Wisconsin, which isn't far from where I grew up.

Now my little nieces love the dolls and they each have one. So my mom and I decided to treat them to a trip to the "big city" of Chicago to American Girl Place for a little shopping and tea. It was a blast. Of course the weather in the windy city was, well, windy, but other than that we had a great time.

My own little sweetie isn't quite big enough for dolls yet, but I was really tempted to get a little Bitty Twin for her. But, I think I got swept up in the moment so I just decided to try to be rational (does a three-month-old really need a doll?) and came home empty handed. Even though I wasn't a doll person as a kid, I couldn't help but be impressed by the quality, detail and historical accuracy of these doll's accessories and the stories they tell about their lives.

I really did get caught up in the excitement about these dolls, so I went searching for knitting patterns for making American Girl clothes and accessories. I found quite a few really cute ones. I mean, how long can it possibly take to knit mittens for someone who's only 18 inches tall? I figure I can crank a few of these out for Christmas no problem. And that's just my kind of project!

I'm listing links here to the patterns I thought were the nicest. This list ranges from outfits to hats to socks and mittens to underpants. Have fun!

Summer Fun Ensemble
Empire Waist Dress
Cardigan and Pullover Sweaters
Boxy Cardigan
Faux Fur Coat and Hat
Tiny Socks
Mary Jane shoes
Fancy Panties
Mittens

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-29T19:01:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-22T12:32:00.002-05:00

More Vintage Finds: Mad Men Style

2010-09-18T15:52:00.008-05:00

I'm not a big TV watcher. My work friends tease me all the time that I'm not up on what's going on on their favorite shows like "Loser" and "Idol". But I did manage to catch the premier of the AMC series "Man Men" mostly because I'd heard about the great fashion.

Intrigued as I was, I can't say I've turned the show back on since. But I do love vintage fashion, and I do hit the thrift stores regularly. After a recent trip, I realized that I had the beginnings of a great Mad Men party outfit. The shoes, the clutch, even the cake plate could make a girl look pretty fabulous. I'll probably not be attending these parties, so I have listed all this great stuff in the Etsy shop I share with my mom.

What are you watching these days? Should I give Mad Men another try?

It's Apple Pickin' Time!

2010-09-12T15:31:00.005-05:00

I don't know about you, but I love fall. I love feeling the humidity give way to cool, crisp air and that "good sleeping weather" when it's about 50 degrees at night. I also love taking a trip to the orchard. This year we had to seek out a new spot, and although the apples were great, the orchard made the unfortunate decision to hand us a list of orchard rules when we pulled in their driveway. Eeeew, that kinda ticked me off right off the bat.

Although I'm kind of a rule follower by nature, I can't stand being told what to do (that's my bossy side coming through) and I really hate it when people point out the obvious ("Don't let your bratty kids climb all over our trees." and "If you don't pay for those 40 bags of apples you stashed in your trunks, we'll call the cops."). Then I was really put over the top when we were told not to drive the 200 yards (from Ginger Gold to Macintosh, in our case) -- that they really prefer that their customers drive so as not to be in the way of cars. Really, what's a peaceful day at the farm without a long list of rules and some bossy bosserson doling out additional rules as you stroll the premises? I just can't imagine why, if you don't want to walk around the orchard a little, you would go to a pick-your-own apple joint? Why not just hit the supermarket? Beats me.

But enough harping, the apples were great. We made an almond apple galette, some applesauce to save for the littlest pumpkin and today I made a Caramel Apple Tart for our relatives, who are bringing the main course for dinner. Pretty nice for $17 worth of apples, and there are still quite a few left.

Have you hit the orchard yet? Whatcha pickin'? Hopefully something good!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T20:34:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-01T07:47:00.000-05:00

Mommy Drinks Because You Cry

2010-08-23T14:30:00.003-05:00

We don't get invited to many "grownup" parties these days, but we were recently invited to a vodka infusion party. I am not sure how one goes about infusing vodka, so any tips are appreciated. But in celebration of my discovery of what's sure to be a totally awesome invention (vodka + other yumminess), I'm sharing with you my favorite way to drink vodka. Now I'm assuming I can somehow make this cocktail into an infusion of some sort...just have to figure out how. This was an especially great way to put the abundance of basil in our garden to use. Only so much pesto a girl can take...right?

Any partying going on in your world lately?

Pumpkin Girl Cure for the Blues Lemon Basil Martini
1 cocktail shaker
lots of ice
10 - 12 basil leaves
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 T. sugar
vodka (lots)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T15:22:00.003-05:00

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2010-08-15T15:17:00.003-05:00

We have visitors in town this week and next, so I wasn't really up for attending Stitch 'N' Pitch this year, although I was very tempted. Apparently the deal is that a ton of knitters and crocheters go hang out at the ballpark and knit and crochet during the game. My knitting friends here in Wisconsin tell me that last year the game went pretty late into the evening, though, so I was leery that my eyes would be so bleary from being up with the newborn that I'd fall asleep in my knitting and someone would draw a skein of yarn on my forehead in permanent marker. It's strange that they don't do this at the Minnesota Twins games...it wasn't until I moved here that I'd heard of this awesome yearly tradition.

As an alternative, I bought tickets for my visiting family to go to the Brewer game this week, and unfortunately it was 90 degrees out and we didn't have seats in the shade. We lasted less than an inning. My kiddo lasted about 30 seconds, and also hated the noise. Luckily, grandma volunteered to stay home with the baby or I would have fretted the whole inning through about her overheating. Well, maybe next year we'll try to catch another game...and hope the weather is a bit more cooperative.

People in My Neighborhood: Resign

2010-08-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

Some places you go are full of "transplants" -- like no one is really from New York or L.A., are they? Places like that seem to attract a lot of people from all over the place. Usually I don't think of Wisconsin like that. Maybe it's because I'm from here. But now that I'm also sort of a transplant, it's really comforting to know that I'm not the only person who hasn't totally taken root here yet. Which is why meeting Jenny from Resign was especially comforting. She's from Australia and recently moved here via Arizona. She now lives in Nashotah, Wisconsin, which is basically just directly west of Milwaukee.

Jenny makes beautiful jewelry, or jewellery as she spells it, and homewares. I was struck immediately by the colors she uses, and how much the pieces look just like candy. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Tell me a little about yourself. When did you start crafting? What kinds of crafts do you enjoy?
My name is Jenny, and I make jewellery and homewares using hand cast resin. I'm an Aussie (hence the weird spelling) currently living in beautiful Wisconsin with my husband, 2 children and 2 dogs. We moved to the US a little under 5 years ago for my husband to take up a new position in Tucson AZ, but have very recently relocated to Nashotah WI, which I am loving!

I've only recently started working with resin but have always been interested in crafting in some shape or form. As a child I did everything from crocheting squares with my grandmother, to leather work, weaving (both baskets and wool), copper jewellery and enamelling, macramé and pottery. While I was at university, and before I had children I made a lot of my clothes as well. I love interior design, fashion and cooking and now that we're in the cold country, I've started knitting scarves for the family too!

What inspires you? What other artists/crafters do you admire?
I've always loved the look and feel of hand cast resin but wasn't inspired to actually make pieces myself until we moved to the States. It is very popular in Australia but I soon realised there was a big gap in the market over here, so with time on my hands I decided to give it a go. So, after much research and experimentation (that never stops), here I am, sharing my story with you. As far as inspiration for my pieces...I see colours all around me to use in my work. Sometimes a shape or form will inspire me to grab a lump of clay and start modelling but usually I just knead the clay until I end up with something I like.

I admire anybody who can make beautiful, interesting and unique pieces with their hands. I had no idea there was such a world of talent out there until I started my shop on etsy. I'm now an avid etsy buyer as well...there is so much lovely stuff to be had!

What are some shops that you love?
That's a hard one as there are so many shops on etsy that I love and so many more that I haven't found yet. At the moment I'm loving the vintage shops on etsy for finding unique pieces for the home. I love that mix of contemporary and old.
I'm still finding my way around Milwaukee, but the whole family (well maybe not my 14 yr old son) loves going to Third Ward to the public market, restaurants and eclectic mix of shops there. I'm also loving the art gallery and lake front area. Then there are the little shops in Delafield, not far from where we live, where you can spend a quiet Saturday morning browsing and having coffee. I have found one great boutique there, don't even know the name of it but they do have some very nice pieces!

What's a guilty pleasure of yours?
Staying in bed for way too long on a weekend, surrounded by my Australian home and cooking magazines, enjoying the most aromatic tea in the world (Mariage, from France), with the beautiful Wisconsin scenery outside my window...and I cannot wait to do that in winter so I can have the fire on as well!

What's a perfect Milwaukee/Wisconsin day to you?
As I've only experienced Spring and Summer so far, I would have to say a perfect Milwaukee/Wisconsin day would be spent outside. Either on the lakes surrounding our house, walking through the beautiful parks and having a picnic, or in town enjoying the lake front or river outdoor dining. I have to say though, that I'm looking forward to all the seasons and the diversity that each brings. I've never really experience a truly cold winter, so the thought of snuggling up with comfort food and a good book or movie, while it's snowing outside is also very appealing!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-04T20:55:00.002-05:00

To a Boy Who is Three

2010-08-02T15:45:00.007-05:00

My little man is turning three today. It seems like he's been in our lives forever, but just three years and a day ago, it was just the hubby and I, wondering what life with a baby would be like. We wondered endlessly about how things would be different.

Would we ever get out for dinner together again? Would our baby be colicky, or calm? Would we be good parents? Would our friends still be our friends? What would our son look like? Would he have my hair...dad's eyes?

When he came, we'd sit up at all hours of the night watching him, or listening to all his little sounds. As he got older, we just kept saying to ourselves, "isn't he nice?" and thinking how much we missed our old life, but would never give up our new life.

Little Pumpkin, you are so sweet, and so smart and so loved.

Doted on by us, no doubt. We can't believe what a big boy you are today. Full of joy and smiles and laughter and jokes and a love of chocolate and trains and your John Deere tractor. Happy Birthday, little man! You are my sunshine!

Potty Talk

2010-07-29T21:04:00.003-05:00

My little guy is about to turn three. I've been reflecting a little bit on what amazes me about him the most. Right now, I'm amazed at how big he is, but mostly that's in relation to the new little TINY arrival at our house. But what's really big about him right now is his vocabulary and his ability to basically carry on a conversation with just about anyone on almost any topic. Take for instance a conversation we had this morning in the bathroom.

Me: "Good job, buddy! Way to go on the potty and not in your undees."
Little Pumpkin: "Yeah mom! I made a poop for you!"
Me: "You sure did! Awesome! It's no fun to poop in your drawers, much better to go on the potty!"
Little Pumpkin: "Look! My poop is like a banana! Yum!"

No kidding. I know, gross, right? Oddly, this is not the first time he's spontaneously made up a poop analogy (the first had to do with a bird's nest). And it's definitely not the only analogy he's made up on his own, either. The others were not so gross, such as "I'm sailing like a ship" when he went down the Slip-N-Slide. I had no idea that two-year-olds could make up their own analogies! Amazing! And with such flair...he really keeps me entertained.

I guess I'll keep up the reading regimen since I can see the rewards in his creative language skills. I can't wait to see what he's talking about by the time he's four! It's sure to be a thrilling year full of bananas and bird's nests and who knows what!

What's in the Mailbox?

2010-07-28T15:05:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, this adorable crocheted Penguin bib arrived, handmade with love care of my friend Meggan back in Minnesota. And for mama, a coaster featuring my BF Matt Damon. So hunky. Now I can rest my baby bottles in style on his boy-next-door-good-looking face. Yay!! Here's to handmade gifts from good friends. I can't think of anything more fun to get in the mail.

Thanks, Meggan!

My First Week as Mom of Two

2010-07-27T13:32:00.003-05:00

If you ask 10 people whether having a second kid is twice as much work, or twice as hard or whatever, I think you'll get 10 different answers. Some say the bump from one to two is no big deal. A blip. To others, it's 300 times harder and is a relative cataclysm of dirty laundry, dirty diapers and dirty dishes. So, being who I am, I braced for the worst but hoped for the best.

Sure, I've had a well potty-trained toddler who has pooped his pants five days in a row (several of the instances involving turds being left behind in a trail as we ran to the potty). I've had a few nearly-sleepless nights. I've had a few meltdowns and a few voices-raised arguments with my Mr. Pumpkin. But, I have to say, I think I've totally and completely survived my first week, maybe even with a high level of success.

My laundry is done. My house is not in shambles. I have gotten some sleep. My two children are still alive. Despite my tendency toward being a hypochondriac, I have not gone running back into the doctor at every weird ache or pain resulting from my c-section. When I went into the hospital to have this baby, all I wanted was for the first week to be over. And it is! And I'm alive! And I'm happy! Like really, really happy!

It must be the hormones! Or these two ridiculously sweet and adorable kids. Or my amazingly supportive and loving hubby. So I don't know whether is seems as though having two kids will be twice as hard as only one. I suppose it depends on a lot of things. But I can say that for me, right now, it's pretty alright.

She's Here!

2010-07-26T14:17:00.003-05:00

Welcome to our new baby girl, Tilly! She's perfect and healthy and loves to sleep -- phew, thank goodness! I'll be back up and featuring some more awesome Milwaukee crafters very soon!

Wish Me Luck!

2010-07-18T13:51:00.002-05:00

In a mere 18 hours we'll be welcoming a new little life into our hearts. I can't really even express in words all of the emotions we've been going through over the last week. But when she's here and we're holding her and all is going to be okay, I think I'll breathe a sigh of relief and be ready to start the next part of our lives wholeheartedly.

Enjoy the week and send healthy, happy thoughts my way! Thanks!

People in my Neighborhood: Jennifer Ladd

2010-07-15T18:30:00.002-05:00

I recently discovered another awesome crafy lady in my neighborhood -- Jennifer Ladd. She's got a shop full of the most beautiful bags and purses you've ever seen, often made from original fabrics that you can't just pick up at the local JoAnn's (which, as an aside, I have decided to avoid at all costs).

Not to mention her own adorableness, look at how cute she is with her sweet little daughter! Well, it's almost too much to take, I know.

This week I asked her a few questions about herself and her life here in Wisconsin. I also read an article she wrote for Esty about Milwaukee Esty artists and felt glad all over again that I've moved here. My interview with her follows...

You're so crafty! Tell me a little about yourself.
I have been crafty all my life. It probably all started when I was a baby and spent my days watching my grandma sew in her basement (she has her own company making and tailoring clothes). I picked up a needle and thread very early, and I haven't put it down since! While sewing is probably my favorite craft, I love to try out any other craft I can. I love to work with glass (glass fusing and glass blowing whenever I can get access to the facilities, stained glass, glass beads). I paint. I make jewelry. I embroider. I make baskets. I work with metal. In college, I even spent quite a bit of time woodworking (although my pink tools received lots of snickers from the men in the shop). I'm always searching for some new outlet to help me create.

What inspires you? What other artists/crafters do you admire?
I am inspired by beautiful color combinations. My brain just feels happy when I see beautiful colors together. I admire artists who are either very good at what they do (locally: RosyBird, Papavier) or very good at what I CAN'T do (locally: UrbanTurn, Kilsook). And I admire anyone who can knit ... I have tried and tried, but can't seem to get the hang of it, so anyone who does is my idol!

So you're a mom of one, and soon to be two. What kinds of crafts do you do with your daughter, or look forward to doing as she gets older?
She is a crafty little girl, too, so we are always digging into our overflowing art closet and working on some kind of project together. She's only 3, so we are still a bit limited, but most afternoons you will find us either painting, stamping, drawing, cutting, folding origami, or stringing jewelry. AS she gets older, of course, I am looking forward to sewing with her (and luckily, she has already expressed an interest! Yay!).

What are some of your favorite local shops?
Since I do have my daughter and another baby on the way (hopefully soon!), I spend most of my time in kid stores / toy shops - I like Sprout, the Learning Shop, Winkie's in Whitefish Bay, and Downtown Toy Store in Kenosha. If I ever want to do some window shopping for myself, I will always head to the Third Ward ... Anthropologie and Broadway Paper always provide some great eye-candy!

What's a perfect Milwaukee/Wisconsin day to you?
I love Milwaukee in the summer - there's always something to do (and the weather is FINALLY perfect)! My perfect day would be a picnic at the zoo with my daughter (followed by a nice walk through the zoo, a train ride, and even feeding the goats (to make my daughter extra happy!). On the way home, of course, we'd stop at Kopp's for Turtle Sundae custard. Maybe some shopping in the Third Ward. Dinner at Coquette's Cafe. And then an evening at South Shore park. Perfection!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T06:47:00.001-05:00

Yummy Caramel Cashew Ice Cream Recipe

2010-07-12T21:32:00.004-05:00

It's such a cliche, I know, but a pregnant woman loves ice cream. And I'm no exception. I've only been making homemade ice cream for a very short time, but I really love it. I am missing my favorite ice cream place Izzy's in St. Paul, MN so maybe this helps make up for it. The Milwaukee, WI area is really all about frozen custard, and I'm just not as much a fan. I have yet to find a single ice cream place anywhere around, so if you're from the area, do fill me in if you know of a place. They have this flavor at Izzy's, I think it's called Coffee Break, which I seem to remember being a coffee ice cream with Oreo cookies...dreamy.

But I took some liberties with a Caramel Cashew recipe I found online and it turned out great. Keep in mind that I didn't measure all of the ingredients when I made it, so I'm approximating here.

If you make it, tell me how it turns out.

Pumpkin Girl's Caramel Cashew Ice Cream

Ingredients:
--1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
--2 C. heavy cream
--1/2 C. diced unsalted cashews (salted if you like a saltier ice cream)
--1/4 C. cashew butter
--1/4 C. butterscotch caramel ice cream topping (or plain caramel would probably work, too)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, until cashew butter and caramel topping is well mixed in. Transfer to ice cream maker and freeze according to maker's directions. Move to covered container and freeze in your freezer for 24 hours. ENJOY!

Vintage Awesomeness

2010-07-11T15:34:00.003-05:00

I have to admit that I probably love going to thrift stores and garage sales more than any other store there is. Yep, yarn stores, fabric stores, even bakeries (did I just say that?!) come in second. I have very, very fond memories of childhood when EVERY Saturday we loaded up in the car and headed out around 8 a.m. to see what sort of bargains we could rustle up. Then, tired and money spent, we'd hit Donut Land, a little donut joint on the south side of Madison, Wisconsin near where I grew up.

I remember there were various eras of our garage-saling traditions. The year we bought nothing but weird stuff like owl lamps and wicker chairs to outfit the cabin "up north" my parents bought with some friends. Then, later, the era in which I bought every piece of vintage jewelry and clothing I could get my hands on, including the sweater I eventually wore in my own wedding.
So it's no wonder, I guess, that I spend a fair amount of time thrifting now. And if I'm lucky to be off work on a Thursday or Friday (the best days for 'salin' in my opinion), I hit up my share of yard sales. Last weekend, we hit some local places and struck gold. Most of this stuff I'll be selling in the I Love Vintage Stuff Etsy shop I run with my mom (gotta make some extra diaper money, folks...kids don't come cheap). But I did stash away a few things for myself. Even wee one came home with a cache of new books and a giant Thomas the Train floor puzzle. Bonanza!

People in my Neighborhood: Sugar and Flour

2010-07-09T06:34:00.000-05:00

If I'm not crafting, I'm baking. That is, if I'm not at my full time job, or taking care of my cutie patootie kid, or whatever. You know, my spare time. Baking is something that I love so much in this weird therapeutic way. Like, if I need to "turn that frown upside down" I'll bake. It clears my head. And don't get me wrong, I have a sweet tooth. Oh, do I have a sweet tooth.
I recently came across this awesome shop called Sugar and Flour, and what to my surprise, it's in my own backyard -- Franklin, Wisconsin. I decided I had to know more. Granted, I haven't tasted these cookies yet, but they're on their way to my house. I ordered some trains and dump trucks to be delivered to my son while I'm in the hospital with baby #2. Hopefully he'll save me a bite! Here's what I learned about Sugar and Flour...
Tell me a little about yourself. When did you start baking up such beautiful cookies?
My name is Karen Herrera and I live just outside of Milwaukee WI with my husband, our two young girls and our dog Charlie. Before becoming a stay at home mother I was a baker at a few different places. I quit my job to stay home with the girls but now one is in school full time and the other is in preschool so it is time for me to get back into the swing of things. I started Sugar & Flour last year to give myself something to do while still being able to be at home with my girls when they need me. It's worked out well.What are some of your influences/sources of inspiration?The inspiration for my cookies comes from a few different places. Sometimes I might see a neat cutter that I feel I just MUST own and the design comes from that. Other times I will see a pretty picture that inspires me. Sometimes it could also be just a color combination. I try very hard not to copy cookies that other people have done. They've worked hard to be original and I don't think it's right to take that away from them. I know how much it bothers me to see my work copied.
I see you make some of your cookies using cutters you've made yourself. Tell me more!
There's been many times that I've had to make cutters from scratch. My first one, the Choo-Choo Train, was designed to match a boy's party invitation. I do actually make a working cookie cutter out of metal - it's not just a cardboard picture that I cut around. I like being able to customize the shape of the cookie to suit what a client needs. It makes the cookie that much more special. The custom shapes that I chose not to have available in my store I show on my Flickr page so that they can still be seen. I'm proud of them.
Your Etsy sales have been great! Do you have any tips for other Etsy sellers?
Etsy has been very good for me. I actually found the site through my sister (hi Diane) when I mentioned to her that I wanted to somehow sell cookies online. Her suggestion was to start on Etsy and see what happened. I had no idea how successful it would become. There's a few things that I think are essential for success on Etsy and can also cary over to any online business.

*** The most important thing would be ORIGINALITY. What's the point of doing something that someone has already done? I do look at other cookie makers online to see what they're up to but your ideas need to be your own. Originality is key. When I came out with my Itty Bitty cookies last year it was to draw people to my store with something they could try inexpensively without needing a special occasion to buy for. They were a HUGE success. Now there are a couple other people selling their own version so I have to share that success with them. Oh well.

*** Beautiful clear pictures are also a must. It's not like someone can walk into your store and see your cookies. Your pictures are what they're going by so they need to be perfect. I like to have a few close-up pictures to show the texture and finer details and also some farther away pics to show the whole cookie. I also like to use pretty bowls and plates. For me, white props look best. They make the cookies look pretty without being a distraction. Also, consistency between listing pics is important. I think you can tell just at a glance which listings are mine on Etsy because they're all done in the same style. Find something that works for you and stick with it.

*** Have a quality product. Be known for something spectacular. I'm a trained baker and I can make all sorts of wonderful things but I've chosen to focus on just sugar cookies. Over the past year and a half I've figured out the best way to make, ship and store my cookies. I've also learned new techniques for decorating. I'm sure things will evolve over time... I'm always looking for ways to improve my product.

So, neighbor...tell me about your perfect Milwaukee-area day (I'm new here, I need ideas!).
I suppose a perfect Milwaukee day would be packing up the kids and going out to Barthel's Fruit Farm in Mequon. Doesn't matter what time of year... we go for strawberries in the spring and apples in the fall. We'd spend time goofing off there and then head home to have some lunch together. Maybe have friends over later for the girls to play with. We don't do much... we just like to relax at home.

Thanks, Karen! And best of luck!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-07T20:54:00.002-05:00

Celebrating the 4th of July

2010-07-02T16:19:00.006-05:00

photo from marthastewart.com

We're strangers in a strange land, so we haven't had anyone other than family or neighbors over to visit our new house. So we're particularly excited to have a couple of friends over today to celebrate Independence Day by eating a ton of food and hopping in the kiddie pool. Did I mention the sparklers? Good fun for the under-2 set. I have been too preoccupied to do much by way of July 4th crafting, but I did scope out some cute ideas if you need them, like these great pom pom centerpieces from Martha Stewart. I probably love them because I'm just generally a sucker for anything in a mason jar. Flowers, drinks, whatever. I just love them.

Martha, in all her crafty wisdom, also has a cute project if you've got some patriotic colored ribbon around. Basically you shape it int0 a little star, glue it on a sucker stick and voila, instant cute cupcake topper or drink stick. Or, string them up and you have a neat little banner to hang in your backyard.

Most years, I also have spare tomato cages laying around, but this year all hands are on deck for our awesome garden, so I'd have to go buy one for this project. It's a really cute paper tomato cage lanterns with stars that would light up the backyard so cute for your outdoor party.

I wish I could say I whipped up a fab little BBQ party this year, but alas I did not. I whipped up Roseanne Cash's Potato Salad (which is the closest substitute I've found for my mom's recipe, for which there is no recipe) and some beer cheese dip and some chocolate cupcakes. I did go buy some little flag toothpicks to stick in the cupcakes, so at least they'll be a little festive.

Tomorrow I think we might have another wee Pumpkin first -- fireworks!

What's going on at your place this weekend?

Some New Things / Old Things

2010-07-01T21:43:00.002-05:00

I whipped up a couple of new items for my shop this week. I've been going gangbusters sewing lately I think mostly because I know I won't have time soon. I've been saving up quite a stash to list on Etsy little by little. This past weekend, I decided to part with two adorable pieces I've been saving for the perfect project. I'm sure they were intended for a quilt or something, but I think they look pretty cute appliqued on these, too.

The first is a little 4T tee shirt with a kitty cat, and the second is a little pink onesie with a cute little girl in a bonnet. I see these little bonnet girls around a lot...do they have a specific name? I just think they're sweet. Maybe I'll make some more... it's been fun trying to come up with girly things for the shop. It's given me a little time to adjust to the idea of being a mama to a girl.

I don't know why, but having a girl freaks me out a little. I'm not much of a girly-girl myself, so hopefully I do right by her. I haven't bought her a doll yet. Am I a bad mom? Ha! This girl better like diggers and trains, or none of us will know what to do with her!

Anyway, here's to hoping I can crank out a few more projects before I'm deep in diapers again!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-30T20:19:00.002-05:00

What's on the needles: Postpartum Sweater

2010-06-27T16:22:00.005-05:00

It's hard to believe it, but in three weeks, we'll be welcoming a new baby into our house. One thing I'm really looking forward to is loosing all this baby weight! I know everyone says not to worry about how much weight you gain, but I'm not sure anyone truly follows that advice. I'm not really one to even worry about it, but damn I'm sick of these maternity clothes. And particularly because only about six things still fit me, I really want to be back in my old clothes.

And some new clothes! To celebrate my body being all mine again (soon), I am knitting my first sweater (well, that's a little fib but the first one didn't count, and it's no longer around). It's turning out really cute and aI can't wait to be able to put it on. It's cotton and short sleeve, so hopefully in September (I'm giving myself a couple of months) it'll be perfect weather to put it on.

I'm really excited that my new knitting friends helped me learn how to check my gauge properly and I'm also thankful for this relative quiet period that's given me the time to knit. It's the calm before the storm, when I know our lives will be turned upside down by sleepless nights and all kinds of craziness. When I'm done with the sweater and ready to show off a little, I'll post the completed photo! Until then, where's my ice cream??

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-23T20:15:00.003-05:00

My apologies that this blog has been awfully wordless lately. I guess the new baby prep/nesting/summer has caught me up.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-16T21:14:00.001-05:00

Firsts: Fishing Trip

2010-06-13T20:46:00.005-05:00

My dad, the father of two daughters, the grandpa of two granddaughters, has only one grandson. My little Pumpkin. But that hasn't stopped him from taking his girls fishing. But I like to think it's kinda special that now he has a little guy to take out on the lake and show the ropes. This weekend he took him fishing for the first time.

We've been practicing with the fishing rod that he got from Grampy as an infant. It's been dropped in the lake, used to retrieve the toy helicopter off the roof, and used to "catch" the doorknob and open the door in the house. Finally it broke, so of course Grampy had to get him a new rod. And it worked great. We headed out Friday morning to Lake Waubesa in Wisconsin. The weather was perfect -- calm, warm but not hot, and overcast.
Once we got out to the spot that had been staked out ahead of time, it only took an hour to catch two little bluegills. Little Pumpkin only wanted to pet them, and throw them back. Which is exactly what we did. Mission accomplished, we headed for home to have some lunch. Little Pumpkin insisted that we "drive the boat fast" all the way back to shore. Which is exactly what we did.

It really couldn't have been a more perfect day. We caught fish, the weather held out despite predictions of rain, and Grampy and his only grandson got to bond over a new shared love for fishing! A good first.

Three Things I Love Right Now

2010-06-08T20:15:00.001-05:00

I'm feeling random and scattered today. It's rainy and I want the sun back. This early Spring/Summer thing has got me in full outdoor dining, skirt-wearing, ice cream making mode and I don't want to see long pants again for at least three months. So here are three things I'm summer-loving right now.

This awesome Cargo Plant Love lipstick I bought at the Sephora near my house. Oddly enough, I chose CeCe, which is apparently Courtney Cox's celebrity shade. Anyone who knows my husband knows he thinks Courtney's pretty hot, so I guess I'm on the right track. I was first super excited to see that the lipstick is all natural, and then really excited to see that the packaging can be planted to grow your own wildflowers! Too cool!

My garden has gone completely nuts lately, and we're already making salads with all the lettuce. My new absolute hands-down favorite dressing is this Lighten Up Honey Mustard from Newman's Own. Next in line is a lime vinaigrette also from Newman's.

And because a girl cannot survive on salad alone, I've been cranking up the ice cream maker. I have an el-cheapo Rival cannister jobby, and it works just fine. Last week I tried to make a frozen yogurt recipe that I kind of made up, though, and it didn't go too well. I think I'll stick to the Ben and Jerry's cookbook.

What are you loving right now?

Wildflower Prairie Buzz

2010-06-03T19:02:00.001-05:00

Last year, my sister got me interested in prairies and native wildflowers when she dragged the entire family to Prairie Nursery, a well-known nursery (I think Martha Stewart has even been there and written about it in her magazine) in Wisconsin. I was able to join a little walking tour hosted by their catalog photographer about how to photograph flowers and landscapes. Although I don't think I am a skilled enough photographer to pick up many tips, I did walk away with an appreciation of these varied and beautiful wildflowers and native landscapes. I had no idea how many native flowers there are, or how hardy they are!

When we moved back to Wisconsin, I found that our county has a program offering native prairie grasses and flower seeds to residents at a huge discount. Given that my new yard is devoid of all flowers, I jumped at the opportunity to plant my own little wildflower prairie. I ordered 1,000 square feet of seeds and asked the hubby very nicely to help me till up the entire front of my house. Maybe because it takes him around 3 hours to mow our yard (!!), getting rid of this amount of grass didn't seem to make much of a dent in our weekly lawn care. But if it works...

Birds will be chirping, butterflies fluttering...pure bliss, right? Well, we'll see. At the moment it just looks like a big (HUGE) area of dead grass and dirt. But I'm sure a utopia of naturalness awaits! I even have a new bird feeder ready to set up right in the midst of it so when our yard is overwhelmed with all the rare birds it surely will, I'll be ready! Any experienced wildflower gardeners out there? Any tips?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-02T20:36:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-26T07:06:00.000-05:00

2010-05-25T20:09:00.003-05:00

We recently became members of the Milwaukee County Zoo. I got to go for the first time a few weekends ago. My guys know their way around, so I got the grand tour. The train, the rhinos, the giraffes were all some of our favorites. I'm looking forward to heading there as many times as possible this summer. This zoo makes you feel like you're out in the woods...I love it!

Toddler, M.D.

2010-05-21T21:06:00.003-05:00

Our kiddo, like many toddlers, loves to put on bandaids. But lately he's moved beyond that and wants to be rescuing people all the time. He's often heard saying "push me down" or "mama, fall down" and then he springs into action to start "stretchering" you, or you stretchering him. I decided that he needed to have his own medical kit, stat. So I did what I always do, and bought one on Ebay. The old Fisher Price kind like I had when I was a kid, with the syringe, blood pressure cuff and the little plastic case to carry it all in. For $5, now he can be a real doctor.

However, it wasn't until I got him the white shirt and made him a bowtie to go with it that he really felt like a doctor. He said "just like Doctor Jill" (who is our pediatrician, and a woman) and raced around the house, checking everyone's pulse ("let me listen to your ears"). I'd say for the $5 medical kit and $1 bowtie, it was a price well worth paying. Now hopefully he follows through on it. I'd love to have a doctor in the family!

I decided the tie was cute enough that I'm going to sell them in my shop. I should have them up in a week or so. So your guy can be a doctor, too!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T07:03:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T07:05:00.000-05:00

Daytripping: Cedarburg, Wisconsin

2010-05-11T20:08:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we took a "Sunday Drive" -- and it was a much-needed escape from our runnings-around of late. We took a little drive to a nearby town called Cedarburg. It's cute and quaint and has a nice little downtown that seemed to be the gathering place for all the neighborhood peeps. There were two (two!) coffee shops, so we stopped at one called Cedarburg Roastery for delicious pick-me-ups. The coffee was awesome and the young staffpeople were super friendly.

After the coffee, we wandered around, meandering across a river and past the fire station, where we admired the old jail and all the big trucks. We hit up Amy's Candy, where I frothed at the mouth over all the unbelievable candy apples. Although I had to physically restrain myself from buying one of these $13 beauties, I can honestly say I don't think I've ever seen more beautiful-looking apples. And I LOVE caramel apples, so it took some doing to talk myself out of eating one. Next time, I will just give in to the apples and skip lunch.

I seem to have missed quite a bit, though. Next time, I can wait to check out the Textile Museum and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts. I think I'll hit those on a girl's trip, though. No need to torture the hubby, right?

It's really a cute town if you ever get the chance to take a stroll through it. I think we all thoroughly enjoyed poking around on our little daytrip!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

May-ry Christmas

2010-05-04T21:32:00.003-05:00

Not that I have ever had a ton of friends, but since moving I am pretty much in constant contact with my "Facebook friends" and that's about the extent of my social circle. It's hard to make friends when you're at work all day, every day. So I joined a local knitting group that calls itself the Yarnivores and I'm really enjoying my weekly trip to the local Starbucks to stitch and bitch, craft and chat, and well, basically get some social interaction with live people now and again.

The other great thing about it is that these women KNOW how to knit. They've given me tips, instructions, and loads of tutorials. And getting into the regular habit of knitting has been great. Two projects down since I starting going back in February or so. That's got to be a record for me! First was the little bellbottoms, now I've finished little wee one's Christmas stocking.

What's next on my horizon? I decided that mama needs a post-partum project for myself! It's going to be a cute cap-sleeve number and I bought this great yarn for it on Knitpicks.com. I can't wait to share the results. Unless they're embarrassing. Then I'll pretend I forgot all about it. What'choo got on the needles lately?

Get Growing

2010-05-02T14:03:00.003-05:00

Can I tell you how excited I am about starting a vegetable garden this year? SUPER EXCITED! It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time, and I had a really sub-par set up at my old house, so I am just smiling ear to ear now that I have one and it's been planted. Above you'll find the incredible design my dad put together for me. It's essentially two beds, side by side with an aisle down the center for the lawnmower and perfectly setup so you can weed from inside the fence without having to get into the garden. Genius! It's huge -- enough for all the things we wanted to plant.

If you want to, you can certainly copy this design. It was fairly easy to build. It takes about 4 yards of dirt, which is a LOT! Each yard takes about six wheelbarrows to put into place. Phew! But it also fits enough veggies to (hope hope) feed a small army. We planted:
--Cucumbers
--2 kinds of squash
--2 kinds of tomatoes
--yellow onions
--asparagus
--2 kinds of strawberries
--Basil
--Carrots
--Pumpkins
--Green beans
--Lettuce
--Spinach
--Sugar snap peas

I'm probably forgetting something...who knows what will appear!

A couple of important things I learned from my parents, who have gardened for 30 years:
--Pinch off 1/2 of the strawberry's flowers the first year
--Plant squash and pumpkins far apart, or they will cross-polinate and you will have "squmpkins" or "pumpuash"
--Water daily at first
--Get something for your sugar snap peas to climb on
--Don't let in the waskily wabbits...they will eat your green beans
--Don't harvest the asparagus for a couple of years; when you cut it, cut below the surface

So what are you waiting for...GET GROWING! It's so much fun! If you are way ahead of me, tell me, what are you growing? What's your favorite thing about having a veggie garden?