Men. What Are They Thinking?

Me: (yelling to the other room) Hey, come get this plunger out of the bathtub!

Husband: (walks into room looking confused) Why?

Me: Because I want to take a shower.

Husband: No, you gotta let it rinse off while you shower.

Me: Wait. What? You're kidding right?

Husband: ::blank stare::

Me: Oh my God, you're not kidding. You want me to shower WITH a plunger?

Husband: ::blank stare::

He cannot be serious right now. Please tell me I am not the only one who refuses to shower with a plunger? Does he want me to wash it with our body wash and puff too?!? lol. Men.


**Update: Plunger was removed from bathtub by the time I finished writing this post and went back to shower. There will be no showering with plungers....today.

DDD Designs For You!

Its no secret that I love creating clothes for your kids--well at least I hope its not, lol. I hear all the time about how lucky I am that I sew and how I have such a talent; I really appreciate the compliments--and if you have any more compliments about how amazing I am feel free to add them in the comments below, lol. Many of you have shared with me that you have ideas for outfits that you wish you could make but you don't know how to sew. I try to encourage everyone that has the dream of sewing to pick up a sewing machine and just start! I'm self taught myself, so I know how intimidating it can be, but there are amazing resources on the Internet just waiting to show you how to sew! Unfortunately, not everyone has the time, energy, or money to teach themselves to sew. For those of you that don't have time to learn to sew and have what they believe to be an AMAZING clothing design, I have a solution! Say it with me.....CONTEST!

So here is whats going to happen, you are going to email me your best sketch of that adorable FALL outfit you've been dying to see made for your child(ren)--I don't do adult clothing and yes, it can be boys. It cannot be an outfit that you have seen anywhere else, it must be of your own design! You do not need to pick fabrics because we will do that together if you are chosen. Along with your sketch, be sure to send an explanation of your design. Trust me when I say that this will not be chosen on your drawing alone, I am no Picasso...although perhaps he is a bad example because my drawings probably do look rather Picasso-esque. lol. Here are some children croquis templates you can trace to help you sketch your design.

So now, I'm sure, you are wondering "What's in it for me?" Great question! Not only do you get to name the outfit, BUT you get the outfit made for you for FREE! How exciting is that?

Starting this evening and going until Sunday, August 28th at 11:59pm, I will be accepting entries. I will choose a winner within a week and the outfit will be created within two months. We will work together choosing fabrics and put the whole ensemble together which will take a little time, but the outcome will be fabulous!

I look forward to seeing all the wonderful designs headed my way!!! If you have any questions or to send in your entry please email me at DashinglyDainty@yahoo.com

How to Care for Boutique Clothes

I figured I should write a blog about this topic as I have never discussed it before and caring for a handmade garment requires special care from what you purchase from a store.

I use 100% Cotton Designer fabrics. Why? Well, first, I demand quality products for my customers. I use these fabrics because they are thick, sturdy, and can hold up to toddlers and young kids. Secondly, cottons are a great choice for wash-ability and, hello, they are cotton so they are breathable and perfect for all seasons! Finally, the choices in fabric designs are far superior to that of other fabrics. And if there is anything I know about my customers, they LOVE choices!

For the past couple months by daughter has been wearing about 90% boutique clothes and I have been following this regimen when I wash the clothes. So far her clothes still look brand new and are not faded.

1. I only wash the clothes in cold water. Warm or Hot water has a tendency to shrink clothes and fade the colors. This is especially true with boutique clothes.

2. For stains you may get, I spot clean using Shout where needed. My daughter has been very BAD to her boutique clothes, but no one can tell thanks to Shout--no this is not promotional, although I could help them make an awesome commercial starring my daughter. lol. I have also used Resolve with great success!

3. Now the MOST important part. I hang dry all my clothes and highly recommend it! Oh dryer, how I love thee, but let me count the ways as to why you are never to see my boutique clothes again:

• You toss my hard work around  like you don't give a damn! You've even been known to snag some things. Did you ever think about what this does to the seams on my heart the clothes ?
• When you toss the clothes around, you create static cling. I wish to wear my clothes not have my clothes wear me.
• You are too sexy HOT for my boutique clothes and they can not handle you. All that heat causes them to fade, and worse yet, shrink. I know you don't have any children--that I know of--but they grow like weeds and boutique clothes are too expensive to take that chance. Oh and that piling. You can keep it!
• Did I mention you are expensive to keep up?

But what about the stiff feeling I am left with when I air dry? I know that's what you are thinking right now. Well I have a couple solutions.

• You can use fabric softener in the washing machine. 
• You can use vinegar in the washing machine.
• Fluff dry on cool for 10 min. when they are done line drying

If you simply must dry your your clothes in the dryer dry it on the absolute lowest heat setting and take them out immediately.

I hope this post was informative and helpful...if nothing else at least a little entertaining! Let me know if you have any tips or tricks you do!

So Lucky to Be A SAHM!!!

"Mom, Charlotte's putting sunscreen on" One little sentence that changes your day. That's what my son yelled to me through the bathroom door as I was taking a minute for "Mommy time".
"Awesome" I think as I prepare myself for what I'm about to walk into. Boy, was I unprepared.
When I open the door I am greeted with a "pleasant" smell of garlic. What? She is in fact covered with sunscreen. Wait...thats not sunscreen ::sniff, sniff:: that is hummus. Great. Did I mention I hate hummus?
"Charlotte put sunscreen on to go into the pool! She is silly" says my 3 year old.
"Ummmmm....unless she's swimming in a pool of pitas she's not going anywhere."
I immediately grab the wet wipes since they are the closest thing--and I am NOT picking her up--and start scraping off the hummus. Yes, it is caked on so I must scrape. My kids are SOOOOOO never eating hummus again for lunch. Let's just say, I've cleaned hummus out of places hummus should never be--and when I say that I really just mean in between toes--all while violently gagging because, as I mentioned earlier, I hate hummus.

Rewind, 2 hours. I'm walking to the kitchen to get something to drink and look over to see my 3 year old using the bathroom. Okay, nothing wrong with that. Wait. Why is his pee going in the opposite direction from the toilet? So I walk up to him and stand there watching him pee not only on our wall, but also across our entire shower curtain. He cannot be serious right now. When he finally noticed me, no words needed to be said. Straight to his room he went. I played the mother role very well for about 10 minutes and then I lost it when he stopped taking it seriously and told me he was washing the shower curtain.

These are the things I have to deal with as a mother of a 2 and 3 year old. I'm still not used to it. Why did they think these were good ideas? lol. The world may never know. Kids...

Clean Up, Clean Up...

everybody, everywhere.
Clean up, clean up everybody do your share.

If you're a mommy of a little one, you probably know this song. If you're NOT the mommy of a little one and/or you do not know this song, you probably think I am crazy. Well, maybe I am!

It's that time of year! Fall clean up in my shop. This means all the summer stuff has got to go; its all going to be discontinued! I have no idea if I will be bringing any of it back. I guess it mostly depends on if I am able to get the fabrics again next year. I won't know until I try then. So now I say "Get it before its gone!" You have until Sept. 15th--figured I'd give ya'll a month to round up the money if there is something you HAVE to have! After that, no more, not even a custom order for one of these outfits will be accepted.

So, without further adieu here are the items you can kiss goodbye!

I'm Here Still

You know when you get so far behind on something you don't even know where to start? That's how I feel with this blog. I'm ashamed to say it, but I actually SUCK at keeping a blog. I used to be so good...then my kids became mobile and Myspace was no longer popular--that's where I used to keep a blog that I posted in regularly.

A lot has happened since I last posted on here: the main thing being my fall line has been released, well most of it anyways. Things are going well which is a big turnaround since this SLOOOOW summer. People are really liking my fall line which feels great because I put a lot into making this line amazing so its good to receive such positive feedback.

I'd like to thank Creative Pose Photography, A Day In The Life Photography, Emby Photography, Tammy Cedar Photography, Artistic Cliques Photography and MiaMoo Designs for supplying me with some Ah-Mazing photographs that really display my products well.

Additionally, I'd like to thank Shake-Up Snow Designs, Blooming Hairlooms, Lily Bean Bowtique, Positively Whimsy Hair Accessories, and Little Lady Accessories for making some beautiful hair accessories to match my outfits that were even MORE beautiful than anything I imagined.

I still have more photographers and hair accessory people that need to be thanked but that will happen when those items are released!

The BIGGEST and most exciting news I have right now is that I have added a NEW tab to my blog! If you place an order you are now able to check your order status through here up until it is shipped! Now there is no more wondering "Has she started working on my order yet?" or "How long is the wait time?" All the answers are right there ready and waiting for you! It kinda gives you a sneak peek into my production and allows you to see how many orders I am working on at one time. lol. Plus, it keeps me honest because you can see EVERYTHING--not that I'm lying, its just a phrase people use....or at least my husband uses. lol.

So sit back, relax, and watch those numbers change on my Order Status....exciting.

This is it...

this is my time to shine! Today is my official first day as a full time boutique! Of course, I've spent WAY more than 40 hours a week on my boutique before today, but I've always done it as a SAHM. Not anymore...we have a full time babysitter for the kids and today is her first day which means...today is my first "official" day as a full time boutique owner. YAY! I am so so so excited. My husband told me this summer is my chance to prove that I can do it. And so I will. There is nothing I want more in the world right now. I eat, sleep, and breath boutique clothes.
Speaking of clothes...I am sending out a huge chunk of my fall line to the photographer this week. Remember Terra from the Photographer's Challenge in February? She finally gets to photograph my clothes and we couldn't be happier! I hope you guys are ready for my best clothes yet. I have been creating these outfits and finding the perfect fabrics since I chose Terra all those months ago. If I don't get rave reviews from customers on my Fall Line, I probably never will! lol.
So anyway, I have to go back to work. Wish me luck and thank you from the bottom of my humble heart for being a fan!