There's a Thin Line...

...between narcissism and sentimentality. I always wanted a clone!!!! :)

(that's me on the left circa 1975 & V last weekend)

Lemon Meringue

I'm going a little nutty over the yellow + white color combination this summer. Case in point-- check out about 1/10 of my Michael's stash from today ($6.00 for this bunch):


Clockwise from top right: $1.99 seersucker headband for Q, $1.00 set of pencils, $1.00 tissues, $1.00 notecard set, and middle $.99 vanilla cupcake travel candle. The candles, pencils, and tissues will be "favors" for Viv's 2nd b-day with the in-laws next weekend.




Here's some cutie tootie ribbon ($4.00 for all). Isn't the middle one very Orla but in pastels? Yumz!


And here's my new FAVORITE summer fragrance from Bath & Body Works!!!! Doesn't look like they carry the lotion online, but you can get it in stores. The lemon vanilla is better than the others, but the berry vanilla scent comes in a close second. The scent kinda reminds me of something nostalgic. Mmmmmmmmmm....ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!


And here's my own little Lemon Meringue Pie in her pinstripe bathing suit from Target! <3


Happy weekending, all! xo

1982 Radness

I feel like I'm in a time warp. Q has decided that she no longer likes pink (well, she never really did) and that purple is the best color ever. She also is fixated on unicorns. She has asked Santa for a unicorn Pillow Pet and she sleeps with a purple unicorn named Unique (?) which was a birthday gift from Ryan's secretary. The only thing left is for her to buy and hoard Mrs. Grossman rainbow/unicorn stickers for 27 years (yes, I have mine and no, my kid is not geting them).

So I have been scouring Etsy for some unicorn finds. Here are some adorbs highlights:


Row 1 (left to right):
Tote by Serena con Jersey
Pen by Retro Na Na
Kool Kids Legwarmers by Mama Runs with Scissors (bought her these)

Row 2
Raglan Toddler Shirt by Happy Family (bought her this too)
Necklace by Ratgirl
Switchplate by Nowvember

Row 3
Vintage Latch Hook Kit by Club Vintage (I want this bad, but have no place for it...)
Fabric by Fabric Bar
Greeting Card by Sparklepaw (bought these as a gift)

Hope you all have a RAD weekend! Christmas decorating mania is ON!

P.S. There are so many of you that I read every week, but I just don't have a chance to comment like I used to. Please know that I am following you and that you all still inspire me daily!!! Thank you <3

You Are Not Alone

I haven't felt this sad about someone famous passing since Jeff Buckley in '97. Michael Jackson was a huge part of my and my brother's childhood.

He was absolutely amazing as an entertainer. I do not believe any of the allegations against him were true. I do, however, believe he was stuck inside the mind of a 10-year-old, and it was just a very sad thing to watch the degradation of his mental health over the years.

But hopefully somewhere he is now at peace. And hopefully he can somehow sense the outpouring of admiration that has occurred over the last few days. I pulled out my old sticker collection today, and I had a nice pile o' MJ stickers and trading cards. Here are some of my faves-- a Girl Land homage to the gloved one, if you will:

Lunch Lady Land

I was inspired to compile this list by my School Lunch Menu Magic book that I finally brought myself to sell on Etsy. There are some fun things out there! I suddenly have the urge to eat fruit cocktail and sloppy joes...

1st Row (l-r):
Tater Tot Stitch Markers by Scary Merry
Light Pink Short Sleeve 60s Dress by Ruby Gayle Vintage Chicken Nugget & Tater Tot Play Food by MomsPeace

2nd Row (l-r):
Hair Net by Dayclean Design
School Lunch Menu Magic by Girl Land
Business Card Holder/Wallet by Sweetheartsinner Creations

3rd Row (l-r):
Cafeteria Tray Notebook by Mrs Loaf
Vintage Trays by Vintage Tea
Mama’s Feedsack Smock Apron by Sewing Geek

Happy weekending all! We have swim lessons, painting, 1st year photos and movie-watching planned for the lovely weekend. xo

So Much to Say & Creepiness

I have lots to say! Bear with me…

I’m irritated at Weight Watchers. Too long of a story to explain. Good news is I’ve lost 1 lb since Monday. Whoot!

Brings me to part I of my Creepiness. I started taking Alli. I won’t go into specifics, but let me just say that the side effects are really disturbing and just downright nasty. And I don’t think I can stick with it. It’s just not worth it. Anyone out there take it before and have any tips for me? Oh, but I am down 7 lbs. overall since I started WW 9 weeks ago. A little slow, but I recognize that I have the mentality I’ve had in the past, and I won’t back down until it’s all off.

Second part of my Creepiness. My parents just returned from a trip to Traverse City. Remember that insane asylum I told you about last year? Well, they walked around the grounds and stuff too. On the way home, they stopped to see my aunt who reminded my mother that they had an Aunt Barbara who was epileptic, and she was sent to that asylum for shock treatments in the 1950s which is, I guess, just what they did for epilepsy back then. Eek, CREEEEEEPY!!!!

I’ll have some cute vintage item pics tomorrow for you. Hubby’s been out of town this week, and I haven’t had time to take pics until after dark. My mom did give me a stash of my stickers last week. Look at these two beauties inside! Totally unscratched.









Another fun thing—top secret at this point. For those of you out-of-staters, Michigan has just started offering all these nifty tax incentives to film companies. Long story short, I may get to watch filming of a movie on Monday near my workplace. Will keep you posted!!!

Last, but not least, I have a new boyfriend:


Yeah, me and 1 million 15-year-old goth girls, right? Robert Pattinson has edged out Ryan Gosling on my top 5 list. Can’t help it—the man’s beautiful. I told you I’m boy crazy.

Have a good weekend, all! xo

Baby Beans, I Hardly Knew Ye

A little bit of nostalgia nearly punched me in the face yesterday while browsing on eBay.

This weird looking baby was my partner in crime throughout my early childhood. Until yesterday, I had all but forgotten about her. I still don't know how I happened upon her. She had a bean-filled body. I never knew she was a Mattel Baby Beans (I was probably 3ish when I had her). She was simply known as Susie. I lost her while at a playground, and my parents miraculously "found" her and returned her home. Of course, they actually bought a new one, but I was none the wiser.

Crazy stuff.

Oh How I Love Dotted Swiss

Don't you love dotted swiss? I love anything made from it. Especially those cute little strawberries.

And yellow always reminds me of my Madame Alexander doll Amy from Little Women. My cousins had Jo and Marmie. We used to play with them up in the old nursery at my grandma's house. I still have her!

And now Kathleen's super cute dotted swiss dress. Maybe I'll win someday. Until then, go ahead and enter her Fields of Gold Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Old School Supplies

Man, I did not like going back to school. However, there was a certain excitement surrounding back to school shopping. My favorite school supplies included:

1. My red Trapper Keeper that I cut open (my bro gave me the idea) and slid a pic of Prince into circa 1984.

2. My Hershey's Chocolate metal pencil case that I inadvertently scratched the paint off of while trying to remove the price tag with scissors. I cried. Where was Goo Gone when you needed it? I did the same thing to a Fred Savage poster. Now why would you put a price tag on paper? Stoopid.

3. Some Trapper folders that had pictures of 80s guy's blue jean-clad butts on them. Loverly. Wish I still had them.

4. My Worlds of Wonder locker answering machine. I never had the cajones to use it because I thought people would think I was dorky. Still think it was ahead of its time.

5. This ditty. Still in mint condition:

Didn't you have a love/hate relationship with school supply shopping? What were some of your favorites???

Quinn and I stocked up on few things while at Target the other day...retro, no? I thought the erasers would be cute to stick in my orders.

In the wrealm of potty training, thanks for all the supportive words. Any and all tips or pointers are welcome! Q's mastered both #1 and #2 as long as she is just hanging around the house. I don't even have to prompt her, she'll go by herself. Though I am not ambitious enough to try undies during sleeping or out of the house yet, so she is in Pull Ups then.

Totally 80s

Like many Etsy sellers, I like to stick a couple little freebies in my Etsy orders. I usually add old school candy, 1 or 2 small vintage playing cards, teeny kawaii stamps, or erasers. I had the *brilliant* idea that I wanted to add scratch n sniff stickers. I remembered this was my fave scent (natch) as a kid so I thought there HAD to be a source:

I about DIED when I found the Trunk of Prettys Etsy Shop. I immediately emailed the link to the shop to my oldest friend. Every single thing in her shop evoked nostalgia for me. Unfortunately, the cake sticker is like $1-2 here and anywhere else you look.

I really loved looking at everything, but really, what would you do with the stuff? I actually found these notecards at that GREAT estate sale a few weeks back, but I ended up selling them. It made me happy because the girl who bought them really loved them.

Anyway, back to ToP's Etsy shop, I had to email my mother a link to the Purple Pieman mint in box. Reason being is that in the height of my Strawberry Shortcake obsession, I asked for a villain, preferably PP. She refused because she thought he was gross and ugly. Uh, isn't that the point?

For some reason, I had 2 Strawberry Shortcakes. Maybe I got a duplicate gift or something. Due to the lack of protagonist, I was forced to make SS #2 into an Evil Twin Strawberry Shortcake!!! It just wasn't the same. I kept confusing her for the good twin, and it all went to pot. I like to remind my mom regularly about how scarred I am that I never had a Purple Pieman...or a Big Wheel...

NKOTB (OMG)

Not sure how I feel about this. A little old. Weird. Nostalgic. EMBARASSED thinking of how much time, money, and energy from my teenage years went into my NKOTB devotion. Shudder, shudder. Yeesh.

And if I don't feel old enough, we gave away a mattress set to a guy from our I.T. department last week (for free-- just to get it out of the house). So the guy calls my friend in another department to ask her if there's a restaurant I like, so he can give me a gift certificate-- very nice. Then he goes on to say it was nice of me to give away the mattress and for my son to help him load it on his van. Leigh says, "Her son?". He says, "Yeah, her teenage son". Ummmmmm, yeahhhhhhh. That would be my husband. My friend said she almost pissed her pants laughing.

First of all, Ryan does not look *that* young (although he always gets carded, and I never do). But second of all, I don't think I look old enough to have a teenage-- wait, theoretically, I guess I would only have to be 3 years older to have had a 16 year old son at age 20. Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I'm going to sleep now. Don't wake me. Ever.

Sugar & Spice

Hello, my Blogger friends! I hope you are all having a marvelous long weekend. We have had fun. Friday, we saw The Bourne Ultimatum. Eh, it was exactly what I thought it would be. Really, no more, no less. The hubby has always really liked the Bourne movies although he's never ever liked any sort of violent, cheesy, manly-men movies besides these oh AND Roadhouse which I have never fully understood. I just sat there thinking about how I really liked Julia Stiles' hair.

We were in my hometown this weekend. Yesterday, hit the local farmer's market for some lovely spiced pear jam and hit a flea market at Turkeyville! Bought a couple of overpriced mothball smelling books just so I wouldn't leave empty handed. Went to the zoo in the afternoon where Q loved the goats and the choo choo. Very fun.

Cornwell's Turkey Farm aka Turkeyville USA is kind of an institution in my hometown. All the entrees are turkey based-- turkey dogs, smoked turkey, turkey dinner, sloppy tom (like a sloppy joe but with shredded turkey instead of beef), you get the idea. There is an ice cream shop, candy shop, rather large gift area, dinner theater, antique barn, and when I was a kid, they'd have vaudevilian plays in tents outside and fireworks on the 4th of July. I was thinking of Sarah's post and thought to myself that this was probably the closest thing we have to The Ark, but Turkeyville is (to the best of my knowledge and thanks to lotsa red hat ladies) still going strong. Let me point out that my husband, sister-in-law, and mother-in-law all think it's pretty grody. My brother and I disagree even if we are simply blinded by nostalgia.

Anywho, on to the sugar and spice part of my post. I baked today! I don't ever bake, but Ryan was hankering for some Hello Dollies. The recipe I always start with is from my great grandma I think, and I have tweaked it a bit. However, I also saw a similar version on the stinkin' can of condensed milk, so I guess it's a pretty common recipe. Still lovely though, easy, and mighty tasty:

1 stick butter

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup chocolate chips (we use milk choc chips)

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped walnuts (we used pecans today cuz that's what we had)

1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Spray square pan with cooking spray. Soften butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs. Press into bottom of pan. Layer with coconut, chips, and nuts. Pour condensed milk over all. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Done!

And speaking of sugar & spice and little girls, Q liked helping which was more her eating the chocolate chips. Here she is in my favorite Rae Gun dress! I just love the sweet fabric.

To round out the sweet day, I finally sold my Sugar and Spice beverage tray which has been in my shop forEVER. Yay! Thanks, Joanna! Also, I received my vintage decals in the mail and fashioned this stool for my craft room. Made a fabric covered bulletin board too!

P.S. Thanks for all the sweet and supportive comments and emails on my last ranting post; after being told I would be paid for my wholesale order since MAY, I was informed today that she decided not to include my items in her catalog, and she wanted to know where to send them back. What the heck am I going to do with 24 door hangers?? No way, sister. I am getting paid. I just do not understand dishonest people. But it's all ok-- I got nothin' but time to deal with her, and Mama is not happy (and you know how that saying goes). I have stacks of documentation, a complaint in to the Better Business Bureau, and an attorney for a husband. BRING IT.

Tooth Fairy Pillows!

So here was my inspiration. This was my tooth fairy pillow when I was a kid. My friend's mom made it. You put your tooth in the pocket of the little pillow then put the whole thing under your sleeping pillow. Then the tooth fairy leaves some $$ in the pillow!!! Ka-ching!!!




Here is my first un-stuffed tooth fairy pillow. If I haven't adequately made the disclaimer, I am NO embroidery expert. This is like the first time I've embroidered (well, except for my class) since I was like 10. He's kinda sloppy, but I really like him!!! He was made with lotsa love anyway. He was supposed to be giving the thumbs up, but it kinda looks like is holding a toothbrush instead. I especially like the back fabric (it's the bottom one). I am going to make a pink/green one too.

Feeling Sentimental

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but some of you may know that my Grandma S. passed away about two months ago. Well, my Grandma K. also passed away about two weeks ago. It's now weird to think I have no more grandparents left. I will never go to their respective houses, never receive a $2.00 bill in the mail for my daughter's birthday, and I will never eat their chocolate cake with white frosting and walnuts anymore. It's surreal I think and still hasn't sunk in.

My parents are visiting from the west side of the state, and my mom brought me some items from Gram S's house that she thought I would like that really have no monetary value (my favorite type of things). My favorite thing (and I'm getting verklempt as we speak) is this antique green wooden box that my grandfather made when he was around 11 years old. It has his initials painted in gold and the date inscribed underneath (1932). Other items included old pictures, two 1950's tablecloths, and an apron with white rick rack trim that my Gram S. wore so much that the pockets were pulling away (my mom fixed them). The pinking shears shown were my Gram K's.

On another lil' sentimental note, I took this pic of Q today. She is filling a watering can that I used to have when I was about 3 or 4. It's not the same can cuz I think mine rusted out, but I found this one on ebay about 3 years ago. Anyway, I liked how the pictures turned out.

Make Out Session #1!

Last night was the first skill sharing session with the MICE girls. It was so fun. Thank you, Heidi, Taryn, and Danielle! I was having flashbacks to my west Michigan 4-H roots when, at 12, I used to compete in our County fair in cross stitch, embroidery, baking (I made a mean snickerdoodle), cake decorating, geneology, and photography. I know it sounds hillbilly.

Anyway, I digress-- Taryn taught us to embroider strawberries, and her packets were so stinkin' cute! I think I was the only weirdo who was excited about the dotted swiss strawberries she had gotten at a thrift store. And I liked the gold rick rack around the extra piece of muslin. I live for stuff like that. My finished product left a bit to be desired, and I still need to fill them in and finish the leaves, but I loved doing it! I have some ideas for a few projects which I may or may not get to before DUCF (think anthropomorphic teeth!).

Danielle taught us how to etch glass! I never knew it was so easy. Well, WOULD be easy if I could sketch and use an exacto knife worth a damn. Mine kinda turned out kinda pathetic, but it was fun anyway. I was coveting Alison's deer head glass. You can see more of Danielle's pics here.

Well, a fun time was had by all. It was nice to get out of the house and be crafty with other girls and chow down and drink a little vino. Can't wait for the next one which may possibly be needle felting (!), but I have a sinking feeling that if it's in August, it's going to be on the 18th which I can't do (Brandy's wedding). So here's hoping for another date!

Hope all you loverly peoples had a good weekend! The unveiling of the new Girl Land website is impending! Huggles, and have a great week. Sarah

Something Old, Something New

I met Danielle and Jim for coffee tonight. They are going to do a one-page website for me and flash banner for the DUCF page! Yay. They are moving on to greener pastures, however (sniff sniff) and moving to NY to work for Etsylabs! Congrats, you two. Anywho, I was pulling out some baby pics to put on my profile section and came across this pic. Dig the uneven bangs and big ol' eyes.

I got a lil' bit of crafting in when I got home. Maybe it was that floofy caffeinated drink I had (medium nonfat raspberry white chocolate iced mocha no whip) that gave me the energy. The hubby always gets perturbed when we get coffee to go (he's a venti dark roast. Period.) for obvious reasons. Made a few more door hangers and finished the inside of this paperboard suitcase. I just love it! And it was so easy. I'm going to put one or two decals on it and a cute "luggage tag" on the handle and call it good. I only bought 4 (2 red and 2 pink) because the rest were all beat up and scuffed in the store. I may have to go back for more...

SYTYCD update: Just got done watching tivo'ed So You Think You Can Dance...I think Faina and Cedric are OUTTA THERE tomorrow night. Which is a shame because I think Cedric is a sweetie pie. He's got such a cute little face. But they were not good. Lacey and Kameron kinda disappointed tonight, but my other fave couples Lauren and Neil & Sabra and Dominic were much better. WhooOOOO (a la Mary Murphy).

Ode to Mia Sara

Yesterday morning when I was driving and then walking into work was very strange. The sky was a very funny color but it was sunny, it was very windy, there were a bunch of birds bein' loud, and there were pieces of cottonwood floating around. It totally reminded me of the movie Legend. Have you seen it? It’s a pretty bad movie, but I was 10 years old when it came out, and I loved it, so I still have an affinity for it. All you needed was a greasy Tom Cruise (yuck) and a dewy-faced Mia Sara, and you’d be all set. Except I think it was pollen floating around in the movie…not cottonwood.

Not to get off on a tangent, but I also have some strange fixation with Mia Sara. In fact, my favorite girl names are Mia, Sloane or Delphine (the latter two are names of two characters she played). I’m sounding stalkerazzi. I also have a Mia Sara shrine in my basement. Kidding! Jeez.

I promised to take some photos of my *prizes*. So here they are. Just a little glimpse. I think I liked the graphic for the pail just because of the “Three Cheers for George Wahsington”. I don’t know why. It made me chuckle. I do not feel very patriotic these days, but since I have a July 5th birthday, I feel some sort of obligation to bust out the red, white, and blue around this time. The one on the left will be delivered to Danielle, and the one on the right is on its way to Jessie! Thanks again girls for your comments.

Anyway, have fun, all! I am awaiting some special packages from A. Bel Emporium and Kitty-Craft. I am seriously an online shopping addict. I need to start up an Online Shoppers Anonymous group.

Cute Things on a Friday

Well, I'm no longer driving a hoopdie. For those of you who don't know, Q and I were off to start our day on Wednesday, walked into the garage, and found my Passat's backseat driver's side window shattered. What the fudge? Took til today to get the window in.

As I was driving from the collision shop to work this morning, I passed right by Anthropologie and lo and behold, there was an open parking spot right in front. It was a sign from God. So I stopped, I looked, I listened (they were playing the Amy Winehouse cd), and I bought just a little something. These cute salt & pepper shakers! Ryan asked, "Do they match anything?" and I said NO! That's what's so cool about Anthropologie-- they don't HAVE to match anything. The iridescent bunny I bought from Urban Outfitters last summer for a song.

I also received my I See France necklace from Regina today. She's a fellow Micetsyer. Brass and gold are normally not my bag-- I'm a white gold/silver girl, but for this necklace I made an exception. You can see why! It's so adorable. Oh, how I do love Paris! And now I love my Paris necklace.

One last cutie pie thing-- my co-worker dug this book out that was her (grown) daughter's favorite book. Very sweet illustrations. Her daughter felt the need to draw in it quite extensively. Just a sign that it was very loved!!!!

TGIF! Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow! And Mom and Dad are coming Sunday for Mother's Day and we are going to Royal Oak in Bloom. Should be a fun weekend. My second mother's day-- how fun!

Cookie Coma

So my cousin came over today, and the hubbies watched basketball while we baked then proceeded to eat our weight in valentine cookies, cookie dough and frosting. Great for my "diet", right? We did not, however, see eye to eye on the cookie recipe or the frosting. My grandmother's recipe that my cousin and aunt uses calls for anise. I like black licorice, but not when I'm eating sugar cookies. So I won out on that part. However, I like to make icing over a stovetop and it gets all good and buttery and crackley. Jana makes hers with a hand beater and it gets all fluffy. Still good, I admit (didn't stop me from eating any), but I like mine better. So there you have it. I have about 2 dozen for the potluck at work, a dozen for Q's daycare party, Jana took about 1.5 dozen, and then I made 5 plates for my friends at work. I don't have any to spare (thank God).

So that's that. I'm dreading work tomorrow although it's been nice and slow. But I'm trying to THINK SPRING. I've been getting some advice from my friend at work (landscape architect) to draw up a landscape plan for Jana. There are some GREAT opportunities for those in the Detroit area to get some cheapo trees and shrubs through The Greening of Detroit plant sale and ROOT program. So tell your friends.

Last but not least, I wanted to post the pics of the valentines I gave out in 3rd grade. Also, the MJ sticker pic is for Jessie who said she had an "I heart Michael Jackson" sticker. I also had several other MJs-- the weirdest I can think of at this moment was a teddy bear with Michael Jackson outfit stickers you could put ON the teddy bear. Hmmm...I will try to find that one next time I am home. Have a good week, all. xoxo