Ready for a Road Trip? Retro Style!

I love road trips - especially the kind that involve rockin' music, (might I suggest a little Sam Bradley anyone?) good friends and the anticipation of discovery!

So - I decided to expand the retro goodness beyond your standard steering wheel cover (because everyone already has one of those, right? (no? well then....).

In honor of my sister's birthday a few weeks ago (yep, I like to extend the birthday celebrations and send gifts after the actual celebratory day - you know, just to spread out the love (maybe a smidgen b/c I'm a scattered brained mom too, but don't tell her!  Second thought - she'd totally understand.  She's running her own amazing photography business & chasing 3 little ones around too - so, I digress....) back to the goods!)

Here you have Whoopsie Daisies luggage tags and handle cover! Because you never want your luggage to look like everyone else's! (Just ignore the fact that if you're lugging around this huge, heavy vintage suitcase, no one in the airport is going to have one like it anyway - makes for a cute picture tho, huh?) 

 In all seriousness though - I do love these.  I'm always wrapping bright ribbon around the handles of my boring black suitcase when we fly, so that I can easily spot my bag coming down the luggage ramp.  I'll be making a ton more of these for sure!  

Here is a little make-up bag I made for my sis too  - I'm especially loving the gray/yellow combination here!  

Then, because you want your car decked out in retro style - we have the rearview mirror cozy....

and.... the Steering Wheel cover.  (don't worry, if you're brother in law is not so inclined to drive the mini van around with a floral steering wheel cover  - like someone I know!) - it slips off quite easily and stuffs into the glove compartment.

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Happy Road Trippin'!  Hope you're able to squeeze in one or two last trips for the summer!

  Psssstttttt!  Come find me on Twitter!  We'll have fun!  Are you the Facebook sort? 

Cafe Apron Blog Feature

Just wanted to give a big THANKS to the folks over at Etsy Fort Worth for featuring my Cafe Apron Tutorial today!  These are a great group of fellow Etsy artisans.

Head on over and take some time looking around their site - some super talented creative-ness going on over there.  

And, don't forget to tell me about your apron making experience!  I'd love to hear your comments and see any pictures.

Plain and Fancy Antiques

My parent's have an antique shop in Northwest Indiana called Plain and Fancy Antiques.  (I'd give you the "link", but there isn't one.  I'm still training them on reading/answering their e-mail!)  However, they have been in business for over 25 years - so they do know their stuff!  

I took some pictures of some of my favorite items in the shop this summer - hope you enjoy!

I'm loving these old coolers  - according to Mom, they work better than the new ones - go figure.

This little painted trash can has a lever to open it with your foot - how cute?!

What a great cabinet, huh?? It's huge!

This is just such a cool retro lamp - 

What I really liked here were the flower pictures - 

The color of this table and cabinet is such a wonderful mustard yellow - makes me think fall, and canning....... (please FALL! Come to TEXAS! This heat is making me crazy!!)

Rhubarb Recipes: Rhubarb Bread

Since Rhubarb is a bit rare where I live in Texas, I thought I'd share with you a few recipes that I tried while visiting my family in Indiana. 

 This one for Rhubarb Bread is extremely simple!  

The rhubarb I used, came straight from my mom's garden - if you're using fresh like this, you'll want to be sure to cut the leaves off and discard them (they are poisonous).  Then, you need to wash the stems and remove the ends before you start in with your recipe.

I found this recipe in my mom's stash - as you can see, it's been used and loved!

So, here we go:  

Rhubarb Bread

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 egg

2/3 cup oil

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk (I use powdered buttermilk & just keep it stored in the fridge.  You can also mix a TB of vinegar to a cup of milk if you're in a pinch)

2 cups diced rhubarb (I'd suggest using 3 cups)

Topping:
Sugar/Cinnamon

1. Stir together the dry ingredients.  

2. Beat liquid ingredients.  

3.  Make well in dry ingredients, pour in liquid and stir until just blended.  

4. Stir in rhubarb.  

5. Pour into two 8x4 inch pans.  

6. Top with sugar and cinnamon.  

7. Bake at 325 degrees for 60 minutes.    

Eat, and Enjoy!  (I'd suggest a cup of steaming coffee as an accompaniment!)  It's very much like a coffee cake -

See the bits of rhubarb?  See why I wanted to add more?  

Next up:  

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

And, Rhubarb Custard Pie (my fav!)

Don't forget to find Whoopsie Daisies on Twitter, Facebook, and Etsy!  Thanks for reading....(off to refill my coffee cup.......)

I'd love to hear any questions or comments you might have about this recipe!

Scenes from Indiana

These aren't the best quality photos, but they were all taken using my phone during our visit to Indiana the last several weeks.  I thought they gave a good snippet of what our time spent there was like.  

 The kids got to meet "Honey" - the newest addition to the household at my parent's place...... we all fell in love with her.  She is a rescue animal - which makes the story so much better.  My parents had been looking for a pony for the grandkids, and while standing in a checkout line at the local nursery, my mother was overheard mentioning that she was looking for a pony.  The lady behind her happened to work for the local Humane Society and mentioned that they had just acquired a pony that needed a new home.  We are all just so pleased with her - she a little sweetheart.  Wish I could have put her in my pocket and brought her back to Texas!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie - do I need to say more???  (Rhubarb recipes to follow in later posts.....)

This is the front of the Log Cabin at the LaPorte County Pioneer Land.  We spent A LOT of time here during Fair Week.  That's my son in the front (all blurry) playing a game of washers.  Both of my parents, (and this year myself included) volunteer their time to support this project.  My kids absolutely love hanging out on the front porch, playing with all of the wooden toys and playing the part of "pioneer kids"

This is me...... "Pioneer Woman" ;)  

Chillin' on the front porch of my parent's house.  Cool night air.... AH!

We ate fresh raspberries straight off the bush literally every morning.  

LOTS of time spent in the swimming pool - again, AH!

Little "Pioneer Girl" - she played the part well :)

My son doing his chores - he sure loved helping take care of the horses.  I think he's a natural cowboy :)

New Logos

I wanted to share with you all my new logos!  I'm so excited - my friend Stacy - from Vampire Craftin came up with these awesome images and colors. 

I've sort of just stumbled along with my graphics/banners/business cards since starting my business in 2005.  However, I could have never created anything like this on my own - totally worth the money!  

Stacy's blog is full of lots of useful information for those projects you want to tackle on your own too - she's just a fountain of knowledge, that girl!

Here is what she has to say about her shop:

I specialize in ONE OF A KIND Business branding packages for the handmade business. The pricing on my one of a kind etsy shops can be reduced if you are not interested in all of the elements, or you can add elements to any of the shop sets. You can find my portfolio on my facebook fan Page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vampire-Craftin/168806933169687. I am also a Etsy 817 team member. 
Check out my blog. It is a HOW to blog about graphic design for the handmade business. http://vcgraphicdesigns.blogspot.com/

This is my new business card:

Stacy even created a Facebook logo and Twitter logo for me:

and of course my Whoopsie Daisies etsy shop!

So there you have it!  Now, I just have to get going on my sewing machine and restock my shop.  It's a little crazy around here, (as usual it seems!) with the kiddies home for the summer.... constant messes, playdates, camps, and chatter.  I'm a blessed mom.  

Must run... breakfast dishes still on the table and they are asking for a snack.  Floors need vacuumed and playdates to schedule.  Refereeing and dishes to wash.  Sewing - AH!  - always, sewing to do.... never enough time to do it.

Ready for a Road Trip?

Are you planning a road trip this summer?  Or just want to cruise in style?  Well.... how about a Rearview Mirror "cozy"?  Rearview Mirror "wrap"?  Rearview Mirror "cover"?  Rearview Mirror "Snuggy"?  (bet that one wouldn't fly... thinking that name has been taken already and goodness knows I'd hate to snag someone else's name!)  Not sure what to call them yet....  But thinking they look pretty stinkin cute with these awesome Steering Wheel "covers, cozies, wraps, thing-a-ma-blips".
Anywho - you can find them HERE for your purchasing pleasure.

That's it for now - can't believe it's been a month since my last post.  Summer is upon us and with that comes Theatre Camp, Soccer Camp, Vacation Bible School, Swim Lessons, and Tennis Camp - all in the month of June.  Maybe I've over scheduled - but let me tell you - it's not a piece of cake keeping two kiddies entertained (or contained) during 103 degree Texas heat.  I'm about ready to take a spoon from the kitchen and dig myself a swimming pool out back but the hubs is against that idea for some reason?


Next month it's off to Indiana to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, a new pony and the county fair which is always a huge hit with my kids.


Til' we chat again.......