Style

There are a lot of things I don't remember about the first few years I was a mom. I had 3 babies in 4 1/2 years. Three little boys under 5. At one point, I had 2 under 2. I shudder as I type that. It was hard.
But it was worth it. I knew it would be. I knew the endless diaper changes, washing hands, wiping noses, lugging a diaper bag and 4,000 necessary accessories would end.

I knew the funny drunken stagger of a 1 year old, the hands sticky from snacks or craft projects, the contented sigh after nursing, the sturdy little ham hocks becoming soft as my wee one surrendered to sleep, those things that I loved would end, too.

And I dreamed of a day when I would be able to leave the house in a clean outfit and have it stay that way. When my shirts would not be stained from runny noses or the baby food I so lovingly made in my kitchen and froze into ice cube trays. When I would get ready and not have a disaster moments before leaving the house that required a frenzied trip to the closet to choose a different shirt; should I wear the one with the stretched out neck from a hungry baby trying to get at the milk supply? Or perhaps the one with the barely-noticeable stain of pureed carrots?

I was a walking Glamour Don't for years. My body expanded and contracted (although, alas, never contracting to its original shape or size) and my wardrobe became a combination of non-maternity clothes that were purchased to accommodate growing girth and maternity clothes that were used as regular clothes because nothing else fit. They were washed a thousand times. They were shapeless. They were serviceable.

I remember going clothes shopping the May after Evan was born. We were having a party and I needed a few things for spring/summer. I bought some khaki shorts and a blue tank-style top with a short-sleeved jacket, and when my friend Cara arrived to help set up for the party, she exclaimed, and I quote, "You look totally cute!" I remember it because it meant so very much to me.

I haven't bought a lot of clothes over the years. I tend to the solid-colored t-shirts that go with jeans, khakis, whatever. I like simple, clean lines and perhaps a sweater or a jacket to go over the top. And these days, if I have a stain on the clothes, it's my fault. I can be honest here; I was never the world's most graceful eater, and I have a convenient "shelf" that tends to attract primarily tomato-based stains, probably because they are so hard to get out.

Yesterday my friend Sandy remarked on how I always look so put together when she sees me. I was shocked and flattered. I don't see myself as put together. I still see the mom of three tiny whirlwinds who didn't have time to fuss with her appearance when I look in the mirror.

But if I take a moment to think about it, I have purchased a lot of single pieces that work with other items I have. I am a good mix-and-match kind of girl. I have decent black and brown shoes that don't aggravate my plantar fasciitis. I have a wash-and-go hairstyle. The stretched-out, stained shirts are gone, except for a few I wear for gardening. I choose items I like, colors I like, things I feel good in.

My wardrobe is not expensive, nor is it huge, but I might have found my own personal secret for looking good -- simplicity, flexibility and comfort in clothes and shoes, a hairstyle that works with my hair, and a low maintenance personal care routine. Oh, and a distinct lack of concern over what I weigh combined with a real awareness of how I feel in my body.

Its not perfect, but I think this might be some of that acceptance I have heard about from women as they approach 40. May it be so, and may others find it long before 40. It feels pretty good.

A new lease on life

In preparation for my evening out with Rob (he has a reception/dinner for school tonight) I got my hair cut. I came home and colored it myself and I am happy with it.

Best part? It was $25. For the cut and the tip, plus the box of Miss Clairol.

I love a bargain.

Best blog comment EVER

Okay, I'm just gonna say it.

You so look like Molly Ringwald from "Sixteen Candles."

But Rob does not look like Anthony Michael Hall (thank goodness).

-- Sandy



I was in high school at the height of Molly's Teen Queen status. I *totally* wanted to be as cool as she was. And I still think she is completely adorable.

So thank you.

And, honestly, Rob had a little more in common with Farmer Ted than he would like to acknowledge. LOL

It only makes me love him more.

New hairdo

Got it cut Friday. She blew it dry and straightened it. When it was newly done, it was very Posh Spice-y. This was taken Saturday evening. I don't want to wash it and lose the beautiful straightness, but I guess tonight I'll have to give in and let it go back to its unruly self.

Off to work on the Christmas decorations.

Weekend update

Sorry, it won't be nearly as funny as SNL. Just so you know.

I went to Rob's MBA dinner Friday night. I looked fab (if I do say so myself) and so did he. He does need a new suit, though. Yikes. It's always something. No pix, though -- there was no one to take one. I will try to get both of us gussied up sometime soon so I can have a photo, though.

The dinner was nice and it was good to meet the other members of Rob's team and their spouses. Nice people. They all asked about my blood clot -- so nice of them to be concerned. After assuring them I was fine, one gal told me Rob is a statistics wiz (or is that whiz?). Anyway, I already knew that LOL, but it was good to know he is as helpful as ever. He helped me through Geometry in 10th grade, so I know he is good.

He got out of class early on Saturday (at noon), so we ended up at the Mall of America. My friend Stacy had ventured out with all 3 of our boys as well as her own 3, ages 6, 4 and not quite 1. They were having a blast at the amusement park and we met them for lunch at the Rainforest Cafe before heading back to the park for a few hours.

Today was quiet -- we hit Home Depot and Menards and ordered a new Silestone countertop for my dresser that I use as a baking cabinet as well as new hall carpet and vinyl flooring for the entryway and main floor bath. The vinyl is the same stuff I have in the kitchen but I love it and I have always hated the very slippery tile and the grout that I can't keep clean. No interest, no payments for a year on all of it, so we will just pay it off over the winter and the house will be awesome.

Rob hung the new wood blind in the egress window in the basement family room today and I washed the tab top valance (whoa, it was dusty!). The kitchen is clean, the baking cupboard is about to be unloaded to be moved outside tomorrow for sanding and refinishing, and the floors will be torn out in the next 10 days or so in preparation for the installation. Once the floors are gone I think I may paint the hallway, too.

I feel so good -- as though I am getting things accomplished and making my home a place we all want to be. It's nice to know that I'm also making changes that make things simply work better for us in our daily lives, too.

Major goal this week? Get some genealogy done to prove Rob's lineage for entrance into a family society in Ohio. Must get on that ....

Slight change of plans

Okay, I still love the dress but I found these shoes that will be just *perfect* with it -- of course, they make me tower over my husband but he doesn't mind. Aren't they fab?





Yeah, I know. They are actually pretty comfortable; I've been wearing them around the house to get used to walking in them because ohmygod they are high heels. Kind of slutty. In a good way, of course. I wouldn't do slutty the bad way. But you knew that. I hope.

At any rate, the event we're attending is a sit down dinner and Rob promised no dancing so I should be fine. And I can always say I *have* to sit down because of my blood clot, even though it really doesn't hurt anymore. I still swell up, though, and it feels better if I keep it elevated, so if I need to I'll use it.

Shameless. Yep, that's me.

Shopping karma

So I hate shopping. Hate it. And Friday is a big dinner for Rob's MBA program and I'm invited and there's even a vegetarian entree option on the RSVP and oh yeah, my friend Stacy is keeping my kids overnight so I can stay in the hotel with my husband. Overnight. With no kids. Woo hoo.

But I need a dress.

Uncle Dan and Auntie Woo are in town and they take the kids to the other Auntie and Uncle's camper near Lanesboro. Rob and I go shopping. We hit Dress Barn, which is a stupid name for a store because it always makes me think of Muumuus (oh, god, I am sorry about that. It just came out) or at least frumpy, icky clothes that only a middle aged midwestern farmer's wife would want to wear. In the barn. Anyway. As we drove up I saw this little strappy dress I had looked at earlier this summer. It was white with a sweetheart bodice and a full skirt, and a floral pattern in black that was vaguely reminiscent of toile fabric. Fab. I pray that it is in my size as I notice it is on a 50% off clearance rack.

Yes, it IS in my size. I grab the last 2 (one in the next size up, just in case -- hey, I am nothing if not a realist) and hit the dressing room.

And wow. It is the *perfect* dress for me. As previously stated, I am not a small woman. I prefer "substantial" or "Rubenesque." LOL Anyway, it shows off my cleavage, adds emphasis to my waist, and just generally looks great. In the smaller size. Woo hoo.

I will be wearing it with these shoes and a sparkly lace shawl I got from Francesca, our Italian exchange student, in 1999. I am really excited about a real date and a night away from the kids.

And today Woo (yeah, it's a nickname) and I went shopping and we stopped at Linens -n- Things. And in more amazing shopping karma, we found gorgeous terry cloth robes marked 75% off. Lovely. A quick run through the store netted a 50% discounted picture frame to hold the 3 black and white photos of Bruce that I picked up at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a stemware rack to use for the plastic wine & margarita glasses in the camper to free up some cupboard space (marked down to $1). So I used the 20% off your entire order coupon from today's paper and spent just over $30. Yep. We got those robes for a mere $8 apiece. I should almost go back and buy all of them and put 'em on eBay. Damn. I'll be back.

Hair

Well, I got my unruly mop cut yesterday. It's long toward the front, short in the back. Of course, it was all nice and straight and smooth yesterday but today, despite my best efforts with a straightening iron, it is .... NOT straight and smooth. Argh.

Yesterday it was a little Posh Spice-y. I can't stand her, but she does have a great hairstyle. Today it has its own wave and body and Jennifer-ness that is not making me happy. Oh well.

It IS red, though, and that always makes me happy. Garnier Nutrisse this time. I like it.

Tonight, dinner at my FAVORITE restaurant in the whole world, The Redwood Room. And I have almost finished a sweatshirt I am customizing for my mom (pix later), and my scrap room is looking cleaner than it has in months (although now I have to move all of the boxes of photos from my recent photo jackpot post back in so it won't be neat any more), and our family reunion trip to Ohio is almost completely planned, with stops in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Wisconsin Dells included. Woo hoo.

And so it goes. August first. Dang.

Our summer so far

Garrett playing catcher for his team.


Rob and Rachel at the front of the big group of tubers on the Root River.


Spencer and Uncle Jim -- Spence learned how to ride his bike without training wheels this weekend.


My beautiful new shoes. Rainbows and heart-shaped rhinestones. I LOVE them. Thanks, Mom and Dad.


Hope everyone had a great weekend and a belated Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.

Summer shoes

I am posting all my stuff for the weekend today. I just want to be done with this -- maybe I'll have lots of exciting accomplishments to report on Monday. Or maybe I'll have nothing to report and a huge margarita hangover. We shall see.

Anyway, I wanted to post about the kids' summer shoes. I told all of them I would buy ONE pair of shoes. Everybody picked something different. Here are the shoes:



Garrett's are the turquoise ones from Lands' End.

Evan's are Keens.

Spencer got a pair of Crocs.

I am not a fan of flip-flops; they are okay, but I would rather have something that covers their toes and has a heel strap. All of these shoes fit the bill, so I let each choose. So far everybody's happy. (Except me, because Spencer was wearing these red Crocs with the outfit in the photo below. Yikes!)