Hi Y'all!
Yes, I am posting 2 times in a row, but I just wanted to jot down a few things.
I don't think I will be doing Playgrounds & Lollipops today. I just don't feel like it, and even though I have a great post ready from another guest, she has said I can only use it if desperate. So if anyone is reading this, or the guest is reading this, and you really want to see it, speak up in the comments! the last couple of P&L have been sort of quite, so not really feeling it today. I'm thinking of moving it to Tuesdays? Hmmm?
I know there is a third, but I forgot. Oh well. I have to get some kids ready for the day!
Oh, yes, now I remember. I've been making a word list in my head lately. Words I hear and can't get out of my head all day, words I like to say, etc. Here are a couple: Cantankerous. Curmudgeon. what are some words you like?
Okay, goodbye! Have a great day.
Oh one last thing, I have been stewing and a brewing up a little post about conscious parenting and how I'm feeling a little jaded by the whole term. Any thoughts? Send them to me if you wish.
Oh and I don't like that show Agent Oso. That bear is friggin' creepy! I can hear the kids watching it so gotta run to turn that crap off!
How many times can I start a sentence with "Oh!"
Oh! One last time. I accidentally clicked on "send me follow up comments" on a blog I commented on last night, and there have been about 60 comments so I get an email every time someone new comments. It's a nightmare! Make it stop! How do I turn that off? please help, I will be eternally grateful.
Friday, May 21, 2010
DIY Cork board & Chalkboard Combo Tutorial
Hi friends! Here is the chalkboard/corkboard combo tutorial I have been promising. Enjoy!
For more great chalkboard inspiring ideas, check out Beth's linky party over at The Stories of AtoZ!
Supplies:
New or old frame (mine was scored at an estate type sale hosted by Rachel for $8!)
Paint for frame
Masonite (often comes in big sheets of 4'x8')
Primer
Chalkboard paint or spray paint
Cork
Fabric piece of some sort to wrap around cork (optional)
Glue of some sort (I just used a hot glue gun, but wood glue would work well)
Screws or Staple Gun
Phase 1 the planning part & the most important part!:
After aquiring and measuring your frame take a trip to the hardware store for your supplies and to get your masonite cut (unless you have a good table saw at home). My frame is 30"x40", and I knew I wanted half of it to be cork and half to be chalkboard, so I had them cut my masonite to 18"x26" and then at home I cut my cork to the same dimensions.
Now you will need one more piece of masonite cut for the backing of the entire frame (you could also use plywood, but might as well get use out of that big piece of masonite!). I had mine cut to 28.5"x38.5".
Now you can go home with your goodies!
Phase 2:
Prep & paint your items starting with the frame. First apply primer.
Then apply your choice of color. I used Martha Stewart's Aegean Blue
Phase 3:
Prep your chalkboard by first priming the masonite (I learned how to do this phase from this fun post)
Even little 5 year old hands can help :)
Next grab your chalkboard paint, or in this case, spray paint and spray the masonite with an even coat of paint.
Then after the spray paint has fully dried for 24 hours, cover the chalkboard with chalk, then erase. This helps to cure the chalkboard.
Phase 4:
Now it's time to get the cork all set. Start off by wrapping your cork (optional) in your choice of fabric. I used burlap because it's cheap, it's neutral, I love it and I had a piece lying around the house.
I first laid the piece of cork on top of the burlap, then I started hot gluing the burlap edges to the cork
Cut off the corner edges to get rid of extra bulk in the corners. Remember this is going to lie in the frame, so we want it nice and flush.
And this is what the finished wrapped cork looks like.
Phase 5:
Now this is the part where we reinforce the burlap, since it is a flimsy material to begin with. Remember that big piece of masonite I had you get cut? Grab that out now. That big piece will serve as not only the reinforcement for the cork, but also the backing for our entire frame. Think of that big piece as the black velvet piece that comes with any photo frame you purchase. Get it? If not, you'll see...
Apply hot glue (or wood glue if you have that) to the back of the burlap wrapped cork piece. Smother it all over, don't be shy! Then flip it over and press it down to the big piece of masonite, towards the bottom half of it (or top, depending on where you want your cork at the top or bottom of the frame).
Glue down the corners just to reinforce it.
And this is what it will look like when complete
Phase 6 - Assembly (Final Phase!)
So take your frame and lie it face down on your work surface.
Next, insert the chalkboard piece into the frame by simply sliding it in, just like a picture. You may notice that there are a couple of extra pieces of board glued to the back of my masonite. I added those pieces at the end with hot glue just to add thickness to the chalkboard so that the chalkboard and cork would be the same depths and be flush in the frame. Depending on the thickness of your masonite and cork, you may have to do the same, or not.
Then take your big piece of masonite with the cork glued to it and slide that in. The cork will pop right into the grooves of the frame, and then that big piece of masonite will just lie right over the grooves of the frame, holding and securing everything in!
Finally, you just screw in the large overlaying piece of masonite onto the frame.
And you're done!
I added some decorative pom-poms with hot glue, but of course that's optional.
Hang, add your important items and a sweet message to someone special, and ENJOY!
For more great chalkboard inspiring ideas, check out Beth's linky party over at The Stories of AtoZ!
New or old frame (mine was scored at an estate type sale hosted by Rachel for $8!)
Paint for frame
Masonite (often comes in big sheets of 4'x8')
Primer
Chalkboard paint or spray paint
Cork
Fabric piece of some sort to wrap around cork (optional)
Glue of some sort (I just used a hot glue gun, but wood glue would work well)
Screws or Staple Gun
Phase 1 the planning part & the most important part!:
After aquiring and measuring your frame take a trip to the hardware store for your supplies and to get your masonite cut (unless you have a good table saw at home). My frame is 30"x40", and I knew I wanted half of it to be cork and half to be chalkboard, so I had them cut my masonite to 18"x26" and then at home I cut my cork to the same dimensions.
Now you will need one more piece of masonite cut for the backing of the entire frame (you could also use plywood, but might as well get use out of that big piece of masonite!). I had mine cut to 28.5"x38.5".
Now you can go home with your goodies!
Phase 2:
Prep & paint your items starting with the frame. First apply primer.
Phase 3:
Prep your chalkboard by first priming the masonite (I learned how to do this phase from this fun post)
Now it's time to get the cork all set. Start off by wrapping your cork (optional) in your choice of fabric. I used burlap because it's cheap, it's neutral, I love it and I had a piece lying around the house.
Phase 5:
Now this is the part where we reinforce the burlap, since it is a flimsy material to begin with. Remember that big piece of masonite I had you get cut? Grab that out now. That big piece will serve as not only the reinforcement for the cork, but also the backing for our entire frame. Think of that big piece as the black velvet piece that comes with any photo frame you purchase. Get it? If not, you'll see...
And this is what it will look like when complete
So take your frame and lie it face down on your work surface.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Home Sweet Home
Goodbye.
That was it, just wanted to get the pictures of me off front page...sort of tired of looking at myself HA!
More on this piece of artwork later.
Right now I have a little birthday prep to do for a 3 year old little boy.
Happy Day to you!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What I Wore All Week, Again
Hi Friends! Thanks for all your fun comments last week on my previous WIW post. And thanks to those that hopped on over here from the Pleated Poppy and said "hi!".
Gosh, this picture taking every day thing is sort of daunting! I have a confession, some days I forget to take my picture. So for instance today Miranda stopped by, and being the great photographer that she is, I asked her to snap a few pictures of last week's outfits. So if my hair and makeup look identical in a couple of pictures, now you know why. And yes, I do remember what I wear from day to day. How else can you keep track of being able to wear the same outfits multiple times in a week without being noticed? My motto is if it's still clean, and I'm seeing a different set of friend that day, then go ahead and recycle that outfit!
So here we go. I have to say that last week was a bit of an improvement on the previous week. I definitely put a bit more thought into my choices.
Gosh, this picture taking every day thing is sort of daunting! I have a confession, some days I forget to take my picture. So for instance today Miranda stopped by, and being the great photographer that she is, I asked her to snap a few pictures of last week's outfits. So if my hair and makeup look identical in a couple of pictures, now you know why. And yes, I do remember what I wear from day to day. How else can you keep track of being able to wear the same outfits multiple times in a week without being noticed? My motto is if it's still clean, and I'm seeing a different set of friend that day, then go ahead and recycle that outfit!
So here we go. I have to say that last week was a bit of an improvement on the previous week. I definitely put a bit more thought into my choices.
Wednesday, go into Chartreuse to work on their blog,
go into CIU to help out the hubby
Cardigan & Shell Old Navy
Patent Leather Wedges Via Spiga
Skinny Jeans Hudson
Belt, who knows?
Thursday & Friday actually (I have no idea how white jeans
managed to stay clean for 2 days in a row, but I had to take advantage of that!)
Hanging with kids, errands, the usual running around we all do.
Then co-hosted Girls Night Out at Shelly's for our first wine dinner
Top Old Navy
Camisole Gap
Jeans Jo's
Sandals Gap
Top Nordstrom
Same Jo's Jeans
Sandals Simply Vera for Kohl's (they were $7.95!)
Saturday, garage sale in the morning - GO GAUCHOS!
I then wore my running outfit the rest of the day in hopes that it
would motivate me to go out and run, but it did not.
UCSB Sweatshirt
Juicy Couture sweat pants
Roxy flip flops
Running outfit Adidas
Zip up Terry Jacket American Apparel
Sunday, I don't remember what I did on Sunday, but it was cold!
Slouchy Sweater Nordstrom
T-Shirt Nordstrom Brass Plum
Skinny Jeans Gap
Shoes Forever 21
Knit Cap Target
Monday, work day in Taylor's preschool and then home the rest of the day
Sweater Gap
Jeans Jo's
Scarf local boutique Tullemoss
Shoes Puma
Tuesday, work at CIU to help out hubby and dang it was so cold again!
Leggings Gap
Layering Tops Splenda (aqua) and Target (white)
Slouchy sweater Nordstrom
Scarf from local boutique Tullemoss
Riding Boots from Bloomingdale's (3rd season and still going strong!)
Thanks for reading! Not sure how long I can keep this up but it's fun. Thanks for hosting us Lindsey!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
For the Love of A Child
Meet my sister Christine. In this picture she's holding Taylor on her 3rd day of life. She looks so happy doesn't she? Probably because she's holding a baby :) My sister loves babies and she's always trying to get me to have more. This is my favorite picture of her. In the background you can see my Brother In Law James and their first born son Andrew, just shy of 1 year old.
Fast forward 5 years, and oh so much has changed. Her family has grown by 3 children, totaling 4 now, she's cut her hair, but she still loves babies. She's still my crazy sister that loses her keys and always forgets something each time she visits our house, but my respect and admiration for her is beyond measure. Now more than ever I am convinced that she is one incredible human being.
I briefly mentioned last week that my sister had found out on Mother's Day weekend that she and James were granted parental rights of Erica and that the official adoption process would begin. If things go well, Erica will be their official adoptive daughter before the end of summer. What I didn't mention is that Erica, along with their other 2 adoptive children, is a foster child.
I hadn't been too familiar with the fost-to-adopt system until Tina and James decided to go this route. I think many people, like me, are familiar with the other 2 traditional ways of adopting, either via private adoption or out of country adoption. For Tina and James, they knew the private adoption route would be too expensive for them, often costing families upwards of $20,000 before the process is complete. The same goes for the out-of-country adoption route. Families usually have to travel to the country they're adopting from, and sometimes even stay in the country for a certain amount of time. With money as a factor, in addition to having a birth child of their own, they decided to go the route of fost-to-adopt.
Daniel was their first fost-to-adopt child and they received him when he was just 1 day old. He was the 8th child born to his mother, and all of his brothers and sisters had already been taken away from her. She had drugs in her system at the time of birth, and she was accused of child negligence after leaving her children alone for days at a time while she took off with her then boyfriend.
Two years later, after the birth mother was given at least 4 chances to prove she could get her act together, that is find employment, a place to live, and of course become clean and sober, the state of California terminated parental rights to her and granted Tina and James parental custody. We as a family all went to the court house and filled the chambers to watch the proceedings. It was a glorious moment.
In this picture we are all happy tears and smiles, but the road to get to this point was anything but.
Angie was the next child they agreed to foster-to-adopt (well technically the 3rd which I mention later). She is the sweetest little soul and she has been in my sister's care since she was about 15 months old.
When you agree to become a fost-to-adopt family, you agree to of course take a child into your home as your own. Loving and caring for that child, giving them a second chance. But you also agree to opening up your home to countless visitors from the state, including attorneys, social workers, adoptive agency workers, Child Protective Services, the birth family, and on and on. You also agree to potentially have your heart ripped from your chest when a child you cared for and loved for months, even years, gets taken out of your home and placed back with the birth family. It's a huge risk, but a risk that Tina and James have been willing to take.
There are no guarantees with this system.
My sister can attest to that after a baby girl they loved for a year was taken away and placed with her birth father.
The foster system is not always kind, and is often flawed. When Erica came to live with my sister, she had already been in 5 foster homes in the 2 years since she had been taken away from her mother. She was missing 4 of her top teeth from neglect, undoubtedly from a poor diet mixed with lack of oral hygiene. Besides the cosmetic damage, her heart was a bit damaged too. She had "trust issues" as the state claimed. Who wouldn't after being bounced around to 5 different homes in 4 short years of life? It was a scary decision for my sister to bring an almost 5 year old girl into the family, especially one with some potential emotional scars. People often view foster children as damaged goods and beyond repair, especially those beyond the baby stages. Sometimes potential adoptive parents think it would be easier to just start with a fresh clean slate, ie, fresh clean baby.
But when she and James met Erica for the first time and they saw her toothy grin, their hearts melted and they just knew they had to bring her home. It also made the decision easier knowing that they would be helping to keep a brother and sister together. You see Erica is also Daniel's half sister.
Besides the risks involved, there are tremendous hurdles that are involved with fostering to adopt a child of the state. I often think how harried and busy my life seems with my 2 young children, but then I think of my sister and all she has to juggle and I really don't know how she does it. I did mention that she loses her keys often right? This is what a typical week looks like for my sister:
-Visit from State of California Social Worker x3
- Visit from Serenity Infant Care Home x3
- Drive foster children to scheduled weekly visit with birth mom and/or family x3
- Drive foster child to therapist
- Sometimes additional court visits if necessary
- Various phone calls with State appointed attorney for foster child and adoption agency x3
This is on top of the normal day to day juggling act of taking children to school, soccer practice, swim lessons, etc.
And did I mention she is the newly appointed PTA President? That really has nothing to do with being a foster parent, but just wanted to throw that in there because I'm so proud of her!
I think the waiting part of the fostering to adopt system has got to be the hardest part. There is constant waiting with this system, that is unfortunately run like any other bureaucratic agency. Waiting for hearings to be scheduled, waiting for judges to hear cases, waiting for judges to make decisions, waiting to see if the birth mom and dad will step up to the plate, waiting for the phone call that will determine your families fate. It's excruciating.
Of course when the foster family learns that their dream of adopting their foster child is going to come true, it's hard not to think about the mother whose dream has also been shattered. I imagine losing a child that you bore has got to be the hardest thing to face, no matter what state of being you are in.
Today my sister took Erica for her goodbye visit with her birth mother. She said there were many tears shed, and many kind words exchanged between the birth mother and herself. She thanked my sister for loving Daniel and Erica as her own, and told her the only thing that was making this easier was knowing she would be in their home, where she would be loved. My sister, while so happy to have Erica, expressed sadness and remorse for this mother whose life had spun so far out of balance that she lost her children.
The decision to adopt is obviously very personal. I have said before to my sister that I don't think I could do it, but I am thankful and appreciative for those that have it in their hearts to do so. If you might be interested in learning more about the foster-to-adopt system, you can visit the Serenity Infant Care Home site, a nonprofit foster and adoption care agency here in Southern California. They are the facility that has helped place her 3 foster children in my sister's home, and they are in desperate need for quality, loving foster homes. My sister also recommends the site adoptivefamilies.com .
Thanks so much for reading my sister's story. We as a family are so blessed and appreciative of God's grace. To have our family grow by leaps and bounds is a wondrous thing, and to know that 3 children are being given a second chance that they wouldn't otherwise have had is amazing.
I briefly mentioned last week that my sister had found out on Mother's Day weekend that she and James were granted parental rights of Erica and that the official adoption process would begin. If things go well, Erica will be their official adoptive daughter before the end of summer. What I didn't mention is that Erica, along with their other 2 adoptive children, is a foster child.
Daniel was their first fost-to-adopt child and they received him when he was just 1 day old. He was the 8th child born to his mother, and all of his brothers and sisters had already been taken away from her. She had drugs in her system at the time of birth, and she was accused of child negligence after leaving her children alone for days at a time while she took off with her then boyfriend.
Angie was the next child they agreed to foster-to-adopt (well technically the 3rd which I mention later). She is the sweetest little soul and she has been in my sister's care since she was about 15 months old.
There are no guarantees with this system.
My sister can attest to that after a baby girl they loved for a year was taken away and placed with her birth father.
The foster system is not always kind, and is often flawed. When Erica came to live with my sister, she had already been in 5 foster homes in the 2 years since she had been taken away from her mother. She was missing 4 of her top teeth from neglect, undoubtedly from a poor diet mixed with lack of oral hygiene. Besides the cosmetic damage, her heart was a bit damaged too. She had "trust issues" as the state claimed. Who wouldn't after being bounced around to 5 different homes in 4 short years of life? It was a scary decision for my sister to bring an almost 5 year old girl into the family, especially one with some potential emotional scars. People often view foster children as damaged goods and beyond repair, especially those beyond the baby stages. Sometimes potential adoptive parents think it would be easier to just start with a fresh clean slate, ie, fresh clean baby.
But when she and James met Erica for the first time and they saw her toothy grin, their hearts melted and they just knew they had to bring her home. It also made the decision easier knowing that they would be helping to keep a brother and sister together. You see Erica is also Daniel's half sister.
Besides the risks involved, there are tremendous hurdles that are involved with fostering to adopt a child of the state. I often think how harried and busy my life seems with my 2 young children, but then I think of my sister and all she has to juggle and I really don't know how she does it. I did mention that she loses her keys often right? This is what a typical week looks like for my sister:
-Visit from State of California Social Worker x3
- Visit from Serenity Infant Care Home x3
- Drive foster children to scheduled weekly visit with birth mom and/or family x3
- Drive foster child to therapist
- Sometimes additional court visits if necessary
- Various phone calls with State appointed attorney for foster child and adoption agency x3
This is on top of the normal day to day juggling act of taking children to school, soccer practice, swim lessons, etc.
And did I mention she is the newly appointed PTA President? That really has nothing to do with being a foster parent, but just wanted to throw that in there because I'm so proud of her!
I think the waiting part of the fostering to adopt system has got to be the hardest part. There is constant waiting with this system, that is unfortunately run like any other bureaucratic agency. Waiting for hearings to be scheduled, waiting for judges to hear cases, waiting for judges to make decisions, waiting to see if the birth mom and dad will step up to the plate, waiting for the phone call that will determine your families fate. It's excruciating.
Of course when the foster family learns that their dream of adopting their foster child is going to come true, it's hard not to think about the mother whose dream has also been shattered. I imagine losing a child that you bore has got to be the hardest thing to face, no matter what state of being you are in.
Today my sister took Erica for her goodbye visit with her birth mother. She said there were many tears shed, and many kind words exchanged between the birth mother and herself. She thanked my sister for loving Daniel and Erica as her own, and told her the only thing that was making this easier was knowing she would be in their home, where she would be loved. My sister, while so happy to have Erica, expressed sadness and remorse for this mother whose life had spun so far out of balance that she lost her children.
The decision to adopt is obviously very personal. I have said before to my sister that I don't think I could do it, but I am thankful and appreciative for those that have it in their hearts to do so. If you might be interested in learning more about the foster-to-adopt system, you can visit the Serenity Infant Care Home site, a nonprofit foster and adoption care agency here in Southern California. They are the facility that has helped place her 3 foster children in my sister's home, and they are in desperate need for quality, loving foster homes. My sister also recommends the site adoptivefamilies.com .
Thanks so much for reading my sister's story. We as a family are so blessed and appreciative of God's grace. To have our family grow by leaps and bounds is a wondrous thing, and to know that 3 children are being given a second chance that they wouldn't otherwise have had is amazing.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Had To Share Part 2
not really, but it sure makes the process fun.
had to share how $3.95 made me a little happier this week. it was my treat to myself.
aluminum scoops from Sur la Table
glass decanter from Smart N Final
Friday, May 14, 2010
Playgrounds & Lollipops - 1 Sassy Mom & 2 Cents on Fashion
Happy Friday Friends! I hope your week was fun, or if not, you at least have some fun in store for you this weekend.
I'm going to start off P&L a little differently today. I figured after my post on Wednesday that displayed my outfits for the last week, you might be tired of seeing me in front of the camera, so this week I put my friend Sarah in front if it.
*If you want to skip the novella that follows on my 2 cents on fashion, then scroll down to the cute pictures (and they are cute because not only do they feature a sassy mom, but a gorgeous little angel baby that insisted on sharing the spotlight with her mom).
*If you think fashion does not apply to you, or think it is trivial, then scroll down, or click off the screen.
If not, then read on my friends, because this is the only time I will ever get on a soapbox about fashion/clothes...
So while talking to Sarah on Wednesday about clothes, shoes, accessories, etc., she made a comment about "not being tall enough" to pull something off. If I would have been a little quicker on my comebacks I would have said, "Yes, and you have a great rack and I am virtually flat-chested, so what's your point?" (BTW, I did get permission up front to refer to her ample bosom as a "rack"). With Sarah I know this was just an off-hand comment because she wears just about anything and looks fabulous, but in all seriousness though, I hear statements like this all.the.time. Especially since starting P&L. Reasons/excuses/objections of why women (moms really) are holding back on dressing up, buying a pair of shoes or a cute top, or otherwise just giving a hoot about the clothes they put on. And if it's not a statement about height, then it's about weight, or time or money, or "my kid ate my last pair of good shoes." If you are happy with what you're wearing, then great, move on and no need to waste probably the next 10 minutes of your time. If you're sticking around, then this is the way I see it.
Height: I can easily name 5 friends in real life that tell me they won't wear something because of their height, or lack thereof. And they say, "well you're tall, so you can pull that off." As if simply because I'm tall I can put on a potato sack and look good. I could go on and on about height and how I was tortured as a kid for my height and how it left me damaged and bruised and that it wasn't until the last 5-6 years I truly learned to appreciate my height and own up to it. But that would be a bit dramatic and boring, so all I will say is take a look at your latest Us Weekly or People, or even Vogue, and chances are the actress donning the cover is under 5'7" and displaying, quite well mind you, some pretty amazing ensemble and looks incredible. The average actress such as Eva Longoria Parker and Salma Hayek is under 5'7" and can pull off just about any trend, or outfit they want. Of course we are not actresses, we are moms, and if you happen to be a mom of average height, please don't let that number hold you back from wearing something you really want to wear!
Weight: If it's not height holding you back then chances are it's weight because you haven't reached your post-baby goal weight and you keep saying, "Well, I don't want to buy any new clothes until I get back to my pre-baby weight." If your "newborn" is over 1 year old and you're still not where you want to be, then can I just say, stop torturing yourself!?! Why hold yourself up to a goal that you may not reach and wear ill-fitting clothes in the mean time? Embrace where you are RIGHT NOW and buy yourself that new pair of jeans or the top that you hope to some day be too small for. If you reach your goal weight, great, you can donate that top down the road. But if you don't reach that goal, then you at least look good right?
Time: If you have time to read blogs, then you have the time to spend 30 minutes tonight after the kids go to bed and browse online. Did you know that Zappos.com is not just for shoes anymore, and they offer free overnight shipping and free returns? So even if you're scared to buy something because it may not fit, buy both sizes and return the one that doesn't fit for free! Or if you are still scared to shop for clothes and shoes online, then can you do this? The next time you're going to shop at Target for 2 hours after the kids go to bed, and wander the aisles up and down aimlessly because you're so happy to be by yourself, take a stop in the clothing department. Or better yet, skip Target all together and go to your nearest mall or Old Navy and do something for yourself. Just once. Try it out, you may like it.
Money: All these previous points may be mute if you don't have the cash to spare. Money is a touchy subject and I will not assume that we all have disposable incomes to spend on buying willy-nilly clothing purchases. But give me $50 and I guarantee you I could go to a store like Forever 21, H&M, Old Navy or even Target and get a dress or top and shorts, a pair of shoes and a cute necklace. Guaranteed! Anyone want to take me up on the challenge? Yes, it would only be 1 dress, but 1 new dress that you could wear 1 day a week and feel great in. It's about the little things, the simple changes that can really affect your attitude and outlook on things.
In my previous job in the "fashion industry", I did not work for a cutting-edge, trendy, European fashion designer. I worked for an American company that produced good quality, albeit very expensive, clothes that fit a wide age range and size range of women. The company was better known for suiting politicians rather than Hollywood actresses. And that was okay because the average woman, the average mom, is not a Hollywood actress. We're just busy women with lives and interests above and beyond our looks.
In my early career I worked as a Rep for the company and traveled store to store training sales associates and working with customers. I once had the opportunity to work with a charming little lady in her 70's. She had suffered from polio as a young girl and the disease left her body hunched over and twisted. One arm hung a bit lower than the other. We were in the dressing room together and she tried on a jacket and she instantaneously changed. Would it be too much of a cliche to say she got a sparkle in her eye? Well she did. A smile spread across her face and she felt beautiful. Truly beautiful. That's when I knew that yes, clothes are just clothes that shelter us from the elements. But they can be so much more. They can be the thing that puts that spring in our step and gives us that boost of confidence we so desperately need that day. Clothes can be powerful. Clothes can help us feel beautiful.
And on that note I will shut up and bring you this week's Playgrounds & Lollipops!
Meet Sarah. She is my friend, my old neighbor (old in that she is no longer my neighbor, not in that she is chronologically old), my Realtor, my interior design guru, and my fellow fashion friend. I used to run down to her house and show her something I had just bought and say "okay, is it a keeper or do I return it?" Her answer was always "keep it", so she is not always helpful in encouraging one to stay on budget. But I digress. She is sassy, she is fun and she is a great friend. Thanks Sarah for agreeing to appear on P&L today! Oh and that little girl with the stunning eyes and squeezable legs? Her daughter Paige who just turned 2.
When:
Wednesday May 11th, 2010
Where:
Sarah is always doing something, but on this particular day I caught up with her at Chartreuse where she was picking out furniture for a design client, after she had just dropped off her 4 year old daughter at preschool, and as she was heading out to show property to a real estate client. No joke. Her energy astounds me.
What:
Black Skinny Jeans: Forever 21
Beaded Top: Nordstrom Brass Plum department
Shoes: Faryl Robin (I also have them and love them!)
Wooden Bangle: Local boutique Pieces of You
Ring: Fashion jewelry department at Nordstrom
Why:
Since Sarah juggles so much, she has to wear clothes that are comfortable and casual enough to deal with her kids, yet professional enough that she can meet up with a client at the drop of a hat and look presentable. This is a perfect example of a functional yet fashionable little ensemble.
I'm going to start off P&L a little differently today. I figured after my post on Wednesday that displayed my outfits for the last week, you might be tired of seeing me in front of the camera, so this week I put my friend Sarah in front if it.
*If you want to skip the novella that follows on my 2 cents on fashion, then scroll down to the cute pictures (and they are cute because not only do they feature a sassy mom, but a gorgeous little angel baby that insisted on sharing the spotlight with her mom).
*If you think fashion does not apply to you, or think it is trivial, then scroll down, or click off the screen.
If not, then read on my friends, because this is the only time I will ever get on a soapbox about fashion/clothes...
So while talking to Sarah on Wednesday about clothes, shoes, accessories, etc., she made a comment about "not being tall enough" to pull something off. If I would have been a little quicker on my comebacks I would have said, "Yes, and you have a great rack and I am virtually flat-chested, so what's your point?" (BTW, I did get permission up front to refer to her ample bosom as a "rack"). With Sarah I know this was just an off-hand comment because she wears just about anything and looks fabulous, but in all seriousness though, I hear statements like this all.the.time. Especially since starting P&L. Reasons/excuses/objections of why women (moms really) are holding back on dressing up, buying a pair of shoes or a cute top, or otherwise just giving a hoot about the clothes they put on. And if it's not a statement about height, then it's about weight, or time or money, or "my kid ate my last pair of good shoes." If you are happy with what you're wearing, then great, move on and no need to waste probably the next 10 minutes of your time. If you're sticking around, then this is the way I see it.
Height: I can easily name 5 friends in real life that tell me they won't wear something because of their height, or lack thereof. And they say, "well you're tall, so you can pull that off." As if simply because I'm tall I can put on a potato sack and look good. I could go on and on about height and how I was tortured as a kid for my height and how it left me damaged and bruised and that it wasn't until the last 5-6 years I truly learned to appreciate my height and own up to it. But that would be a bit dramatic and boring, so all I will say is take a look at your latest Us Weekly or People, or even Vogue, and chances are the actress donning the cover is under 5'7" and displaying, quite well mind you, some pretty amazing ensemble and looks incredible. The average actress such as Eva Longoria Parker and Salma Hayek is under 5'7" and can pull off just about any trend, or outfit they want. Of course we are not actresses, we are moms, and if you happen to be a mom of average height, please don't let that number hold you back from wearing something you really want to wear!
Weight: If it's not height holding you back then chances are it's weight because you haven't reached your post-baby goal weight and you keep saying, "Well, I don't want to buy any new clothes until I get back to my pre-baby weight." If your "newborn" is over 1 year old and you're still not where you want to be, then can I just say, stop torturing yourself!?! Why hold yourself up to a goal that you may not reach and wear ill-fitting clothes in the mean time? Embrace where you are RIGHT NOW and buy yourself that new pair of jeans or the top that you hope to some day be too small for. If you reach your goal weight, great, you can donate that top down the road. But if you don't reach that goal, then you at least look good right?
Time: If you have time to read blogs, then you have the time to spend 30 minutes tonight after the kids go to bed and browse online. Did you know that Zappos.com is not just for shoes anymore, and they offer free overnight shipping and free returns? So even if you're scared to buy something because it may not fit, buy both sizes and return the one that doesn't fit for free! Or if you are still scared to shop for clothes and shoes online, then can you do this? The next time you're going to shop at Target for 2 hours after the kids go to bed, and wander the aisles up and down aimlessly because you're so happy to be by yourself, take a stop in the clothing department. Or better yet, skip Target all together and go to your nearest mall or Old Navy and do something for yourself. Just once. Try it out, you may like it.
Money: All these previous points may be mute if you don't have the cash to spare. Money is a touchy subject and I will not assume that we all have disposable incomes to spend on buying willy-nilly clothing purchases. But give me $50 and I guarantee you I could go to a store like Forever 21, H&M, Old Navy or even Target and get a dress or top and shorts, a pair of shoes and a cute necklace. Guaranteed! Anyone want to take me up on the challenge? Yes, it would only be 1 dress, but 1 new dress that you could wear 1 day a week and feel great in. It's about the little things, the simple changes that can really affect your attitude and outlook on things.
In my previous job in the "fashion industry", I did not work for a cutting-edge, trendy, European fashion designer. I worked for an American company that produced good quality, albeit very expensive, clothes that fit a wide age range and size range of women. The company was better known for suiting politicians rather than Hollywood actresses. And that was okay because the average woman, the average mom, is not a Hollywood actress. We're just busy women with lives and interests above and beyond our looks.
In my early career I worked as a Rep for the company and traveled store to store training sales associates and working with customers. I once had the opportunity to work with a charming little lady in her 70's. She had suffered from polio as a young girl and the disease left her body hunched over and twisted. One arm hung a bit lower than the other. We were in the dressing room together and she tried on a jacket and she instantaneously changed. Would it be too much of a cliche to say she got a sparkle in her eye? Well she did. A smile spread across her face and she felt beautiful. Truly beautiful. That's when I knew that yes, clothes are just clothes that shelter us from the elements. But they can be so much more. They can be the thing that puts that spring in our step and gives us that boost of confidence we so desperately need that day. Clothes can be powerful. Clothes can help us feel beautiful.
And on that note I will shut up and bring you this week's Playgrounds & Lollipops!
When:
Wednesday May 11th, 2010
Where:
Sarah is always doing something, but on this particular day I caught up with her at Chartreuse where she was picking out furniture for a design client, after she had just dropped off her 4 year old daughter at preschool, and as she was heading out to show property to a real estate client. No joke. Her energy astounds me.
What:
Black Skinny Jeans: Forever 21
Beaded Top: Nordstrom Brass Plum department
Shoes: Faryl Robin (I also have them and love them!)
Wooden Bangle: Local boutique Pieces of You
Ring: Fashion jewelry department at Nordstrom
Why:
Since Sarah juggles so much, she has to wear clothes that are comfortable and casual enough to deal with her kids, yet professional enough that she can meet up with a client at the drop of a hat and look presentable. This is a perfect example of a functional yet fashionable little ensemble.
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