Things I've learned

Things I've learned from 30 for 30:

1. Putting effort into your appearance - actually "Dressing" for the day, every day, is HARD.
   
2. I need to lose weight. Taking a picture of yourself every day really tells you how you look.
3. I feel better about myself when I put some effort into my appearance.
4. I could use a few more basic pieces to add to my wardrobe, but it's not required to live.
5. Looking nice can be difficult/require effort, but usually it's worth it.
6. Dressing for the day is made more difficult when you are a mom of small children. Vomit, food, art supplies can randomly appear on your clothes and you have to evaluate if it's bad enough to bother to change. But if you put in a lot of effort to each outfit, then you just have to do it all over again when your child inevitably spits up half his lunch all over your lap/shoulder/hair.
   
7. If/when I do this again, I think I will choose my pieces with a better idea of what I'm going to want. And I'll go to the dry cleaner more often. I get free dry cleaning - I really should take advantage of that.
8. I need more jeans. One pair that fit just will not do.
   
9. I need to update my wardrobe. Some of what I have in my closet dates back up to 15 years.
   
10. I need to be more selective about what I own and what I buy and what I keep. I've got a lot of junk in my closet (still! and I just cleaned it out when I moved into the new room!) and I need to make sure what I have is actually useful pieces.
11. I like shoes. I like cute shoes and pretty shoes. I love the way they look and I sometimes even have shoe envy. But I hate uncomfortable shoes. This includes most - if not all - heels. And I cannot justify buying cute shoes that I won't be able to wear. (plus, my lifestyle doesn't open itself up to the need for such things)
12. Sometimes, it's a good idea to abandon my "Frumpy 30-Something Mom" style. (I stole this term from Maggie.) And sometimes, it's appropriate.

I may do this again. But I'll know better. I'll know to spread out my categories better and hopefully, I'll have a few better options in my closet next time.

Also: To celebrate the completion of 30 for 30 and the lift on the shopping ban, I went out and bought some new jeans. I needed them, since I went down another jeans size! Yeah me!

Day 30 - Tah Dah!

Wow. 30 days. I did okay, mostly. This last week has been hard because of the weather and also: I went back to work for my dad this week (to help him out, not because I was planning to) and there are certain things that are/aren't encouraged around there for various reasons. But anyhow.

My final outfit is:
Jeans (of course!), my tan long-sleeved v-neck (NY and Co - circa 2005?), my long blue sweater/vest (Dress Barn 2010), brown shoes. My dad even said I looked nice when I went in today. (Now that I mention it, it's the first time all week I've worn full make-up. Maybe that was what he was commenting on?)

I struggled the last couple of days. The "what do I wear that I haven't worn already?" dilemma. (Again, coupled with the cold snap we are currently dealing with - seriously, since I started this last month, our weather has dipped from highs in the mid-80s to lows in the low 40s. I have worn shorts and tank tops and now I'm having to resort to breaking out my winter coat! (or at least one of them. For a FL girl, I have a surprising selection of coats. And I keep seeing these really cute coats and thinking "ooh, I'd like to have that!" but then realizing that I really don't need it.) And Monday night we're going to have a chance for a freeze!) But then again, I shouldn't be surprised! This is Florida weather at it's finest - you never can tell what it will do!

I'd like to take this moment to mourn the passing of one of my favorite sweaters. It wasn't in my 30, so you never got to see it, but I loved it. It was a great color on me (sort of a 'blackberry" color - I got it last year from Loft - on clearance - when I was going through my "obsessed with the color blackberry phase") and when my new AC unit leaked in my closet a couple of weeks ago, something dripped on it that pulled color from a spot right in the middle. So I have this quarter-sized hot pink spot right around where my breast is and there is just nothing I can do about it. I am seriously bummed. I am also bummed that I only got to wear it once this season before I started 30 for 30 and now it is gone forever. Sad sigh.

There will be a separate post on what I've learned from doing 30 for 30. It was a good experience. It taught me a lot, got me out of some of my ruts, reminded me that I feel better about myself when I put some effort into my appearance.

Also, going back to work this week seems to have had a positive effect on my waistline, so I'll need to buy some new jeans soon (hopefully this week! when I get my paycheck!) and I'm very glad I didn't drop a size at the beginning of 30 for 30 or I would have been in a boat-load of trouble!

Day 29 (Thursday)

I don't know why I hadn't thought of this outfit before - it's not that unusual for me to layer this blouse over a neutral smaller top, but for some reason...

My brown t-shirt (Target), under my blue, tencel button-down blouse (Dress Barn, circa 1999) and my jeans. Work is limiting my accessory choices - the long necklaces and dangling scarves aren't even remotely practical.

Tomorrow is my last day. I have NO idea what I'm going to wear. None. Blanking completely. But I'm sure I'll come up with something.

Day 28 - I'm Switzerland

And by that, I mean I'm neutral. (or I was on Wednesday)

I went very neutral today. I wore my tannish long-sleeved collared shirt and my beige khakis with my brown shoes. I also tried something new with my hair and did a loose pony tail, inspired by my cute toddler, but it looks way cuter on her. Ah well, you win some, you lose some, right?

This week was our first big cold front, and I'm having trouble finding warm enough clothes to wear from my 30. But almost done!

Day 27 - speedy-like

No time for an in-depth post, but as I'm getting closer to the end of the challenge, I want to get this out here...

Tuesday, I went to work for my dad and since it's cold out and there is no heat except for what steam is generated by the machines, I had to make sure to dress warmly, but so that I could still nurse easily.

Khaki pants (origins unknown - at least 3 years old, probably longer), green long-sleeved t-shirt (Loft), and blue corduroy blazer (Cold Water Creek), brown shoes (Penney's - several years ago).

I never would have paired this blazer with this shirt if it weren't for 30 for 30 (though to be honest, I might have just thrown an old performance fleece over the whole thing if it weren't for 30 for 30, so my dad should be thankful to Kendi for my improved appearance.) I don't know why, but I try not to put that many solid colors in the same/similar saturation together. It's not even really a conscious thing (I had to rack my brain for why I don't do that). I also added my green and silver long necklace that I love so much (notice how I've gone from calling it my mom's necklace to mine - subtle, don't you think?)

back to work (day 24, 25, 26)

Whose idea was THIS?

My dad lost 2 employees with no notice and was already short handed and somehow my offer of help became a regular gig. I am stressed and really, really unhappy. I worked on Friday, and while I am happy to help him and having a little extra cash, especially at Christmas time, is awfully nice, I am just... I don't want to do this.

It is HARD with two kids. I'm dealing with an active toddler and an infant who eats every 2 hours, pretty consistently. I'm also still dealing with spotty sleep, as Little Man can't decide if he truly is one of those kids who can sleep through the night or not. (He'll do it for a day - maybe 2, but then we have an awful night again where he wakes up after 4 hours and wants to eat again, 2 hours later after that, too!)

I just don't want to do it any more. I don't like this job. I really never have. And my dad brought it on himself by not thinking before he speaks to his employees and saying something insulting. But if I don't help out, he's sort of screwed.

What I've told him is that I will do it until the kids can't anymore. I don't imagine that it's going to go over well with Fuss. And I have way too much to do before Christmas to do this every week, 5 days a week. He is going to have to find someone, and FAST.

____________
Friday, I was having trouble putting together an outfit. I had nothing clean! I had dropped my dry cleaning off the night before to my dad, which was how I got roped into helping him out that day. I managed to put together a cute outfit, with shoes I later regretted. I wore my jeans, my black v-neck Tee and my blue blazer. I paired it with simple jewelry because I thought I'd be lifting clothes for at least part of the day (I did) and my boots because I had no idea I'd be on my feet for 4.5 hours straight (I was. The shoes were a mistake).

Saturday I wore my khakis because I was in the mood for something different and my cream t-shirt with my brown argyle cardigan. I wore my cross necklace and no earrings because I was going for simple and couldn't come up with anything interesting.

Sunday, we finally made it back to church after several weeks off. The kids have been sick and Daddy Fuss and I have been suffering from ennui, so we've skipped more than I usually like to. I finally got to break out my black dress (Walmart) and got to wear my pearls. I paired them with my diamond and gold and silver hoop earrings, my black heels and I added a cream colored cardigan for warmth. (By midday when I was able to take the picture, it was warm enough to take off the sweater.) I changed later, but kept on the pearls and noted later in the day that "pearls make everything more elegant." It's true, you know, they really do.

Man, I feel like a Woman (Day 23)

Okay, so I couldn't think of a better title than that.

I have been planning this outfit - at least in part - since the beginning of 30 for 30. At least the tie with the button down. It was inspired by the episode of Gilmore Girls where Richard and Emily do their vow renewal and Rory is the "best man." (for those who care, episode 5.13 Wedding Bell Blues - I was almost positive it was season 6, but I was wrong.) Then I got this new hat and, well, even better! I was excited about it. But when I met up with my husband for lunch, he sort of looked at me funny. I don't think he was impressed. He told me he "had to get used to it," whatever that means. So then I started to second guess myself. And I LOVE hats - I like them on other people, I like wearing them, but I always feel self-conscious in them once I'm out in public. I feel like people are staring at me and wondering who the freak is who is wearing the hat and why, oh, why did she think that was a good idea?

So the jury is still out on this outfit.

So anyhow, here's the specs: Shirt - (Paul Harris, approximately 15 years old), jeans, tie (husbands - borrowed from his side of the closet), hat (gifted - Target), boots (Kohl's - this fall).

What's YOUR take on it?
(sorry, no pictures. will hopefully be posted at a later date when we can figure out how to get the darn things off my camera...)

I had a case of the Mondays (Day 22)

There has been an upswing in the amount of baby vomit in this house lately. This makes doing 30 for 30 difficult. On Monday, before I had even done my make-up and decided whether or not my new (gifted!) hat was going to be part of my outfit (it never made it) I had been drooled and spit up on. Twice. But for the record, I was wearing my blue v-neck (Loft) and my jeans. I had my chunky blue necklace on and was debating on the hat.

Around noon, the baby began having a meltdown. Seriously. He would scream his head off if I so much as set him down for a millisecond. If I even sat down while holding him, he would yell and cry. He liked looking at the Christmas tree lights, but I couldn't set him down even while looking at them. hen

At the same time, Fuss decided it was time to get serious about this potty training thing and needed help with that. And when I couldn't drop everything to help her the exact second she demanded it, she had a melt down too!

I FINALLY got the baby settled and put him down for a nap. Then Fuss wanted to snuggle and watch TV before her naptime. I had a horrible headache, but she and I made it through her show and she went to bed fairly easily. I did some dishes (my kitchen over flows), fed the baby and put him back down (he didn't seem to want to be awake) and then attempted to lay down myself. I hadn't been down for long when Little Man stirred and fussed, but I was able to quiet him quickly by replacing his paci. He woke up after an hour, though, ready to eat again (early) and still very fussy.

I was worried he was having an ear problem since he wanted to be straight up, not angled at all and if I laid him down, he'd scream so much!

Fuss got up a little later and repeatedly went to the potty successfully all afternoon long! We're still using pull-ups because she isn't 100% yet (most of her pull-ups were soiled somehow even with her frequent trips to the potty, but that's okay! She's doing SO much better!)

My husband had a softball game at 8:30. Often, I will take the kids to his games, even when they are that late (they rotate times) but as stressed as I was (and I didn't think my MIL would be coming to help corral Fuss) I didn't think I could handle it. But my husband knew I needed to get out of the house, so he called his mom and convinced her to come and help me out and we went. (This puts Fuss to bed late, but then she sleeps in the next morning, so it works well, usually.) It was fun - he won and both Fuss and Little Man were much happier and much more tired out by the time we got home.

I was tired. I fed the baby (who wanted to eat and eat and EAT) and went to bed. He was wide awake, so my husband stayed up with him until he could get him to sleep (thanks, hun!) and we all had a good night's sleep.

Day 21 and 2 kids at Christmas

Awhile back, I wrote a post about my daughter being cooler than me because she pulled off a somewhat trendy look of wearing cute shorts with a long sleeved t-shirt and I didn't think I could do the same. Today, I tried.

I wore my long-sleeved green scoopneck tee (Loft) with my denim shorts. I didn't leave the house all day, so I didn't bother with shoes. I don't even think I put make up on. Most of the day I wore my hair in a claw clip and when it dried it was nice and curly. (Picture to come - having trouble getting it off my camera.)

We decorated for Christmas (Fuss was thrilled!) and did stuff (like the mountain of laundry) around the house. We're having the "what do we do about a stocking for the baby?" discussion (currently, the plan is to let him use the tiny stocking we already had just because it had a moose on it and to buy 4 matching/coordinating stockings at the after Christmas sales for our current and future children to use - this may change, but it seems logical. Ultimately, I want to have matching/coordinating stockings for all of our children but I don't want to wait until we have reached our final child to purchase said stockings, so that they have them all along) and I worked on researching what Christmas presents we were going to get for the kids.

My mom got Fuss a play kitchen she found for a bargain online and a table and chairs for her room. I had been thinking about doing the table and chairs, but mom got such a bargain on the kitchen that she wanted to do the table, too. My husband did some research on the electronic devices for pre-school aged children and I talked to my mom friends. We're getting her the iXL by Fischer Price (I LOVE Fischer Price. I had a tape player when I was a kid - my mom got it for me when I was about 4 - and it STILL plays. Not that I have many tapes to play these days, but... and I seriously beat it up, too and worked beautifully.) She's also getting a tea set, Beauty and the Beast on DVD, some clothes, and a few other things. I'm looking forward to getting her some sparkly kid-friendly jewelry to play with, since she LOVES my jewelry and has been enjoying the few pieces she already has. She'll get coloring books and such, as well. I also found this Strawberry Shortcake set really cheap, so I think I'm going to get her that, too. She knows the Strawberry Shortcake ("Strawberry Cake" she calls her) icon, but doesn't have any toys or movies.

(Interruption: We are watching Disney's animal kingdom version of Robin Hood and Fuss called Sir Hiss "Kiss" I corrected her and she informed me that his sister calls him "Kiss." Who knew?)

The baby is a little harder. I want to get him a couple of somethings - small, of course, since he has no clue what's going on - specifically because the next major gift-giving holiday is going to be 9 months away. I found some nesting/stacking blocks I like, a teething play pack and I'm debating this water-filled tummy time play mat. He's also getting a few new clothes and a big box of diapers!

My own needs/wants are few. My mom keeps asking me what I want for Christmas - I think it's obvious that I've reached adulthood, since I can only think of a few small things I'd like to have, but none of which are that important. I have my beautiful, healthy, happy family. I just got a new room added to my house! I am really quite content! But my mom likes to go all out for Christmas so...

I have a couple of ideas for my husband, but they are HUGE gifts and his 30th birthday is right around the corner, so I can't go too crazy, since I'll want to do something big for his birthday, too. Plus, I want to get him something from the kids, too. And he reads this blog periodically, so I can't discuss them here.

Day 17, 18, 19, 20: to Disney and Back Again

On Tuesday, we left for Orlando w/ my SIL (LB), her husband and 2 daughters and my MIL. (MIL drove with me.) We met my SIL J over there, as she had been in Orlando on Monday and Tuesday for a conference. LP and my husband came over later once my husband got off work at 7PM.

Dinner was horrible - we went to an expensive, unimpressive Mexican restaurant at Downtown Disney and both 2 year olds caused problems while we were there. My niece used the potty when we first got there and then Fuss got jealous, so she demanded to use the potty, too. Only she didn't really have to go. So she and I spent 15 minutes with her sitting on the potty in the bathroom while our food arrived and got cold and she wouldn't willingly get off the pot. I was really putting forth an effort to keep my cool, so I finally had to scoop her up and remove her physically from the seat, put her diaper back on and distract her with hand washing. (She loves washing her hands.)

That day, I wore casual clothes, since we were primarily preparing for and traveling to our destination. My black v-neck shirt, denim shorts and Birks.

Wednesday was THE day. I dressed in my seafoam green t-shirt (Motherhood - yes, it's a maternity shirt, but it's long and I knew I'd be spending the bulk of the day with my Moby wrap on and that the longer shirt would be helpful) and my jeans. I admit a small cheat - I wore my sneakers, which were not part of my 30 (I hate them, but for all-day walking, that's really all I've got) but they weren't part of a fashion statement - they were all functional. The kids were dressed in their Mickey Mouse t-shirts and they were adorable. More on our experience in a different post.

I took Thursday off from 30 for 30. I somehow hadn't packed any more tops that were in my 30.

On Friday, though, I wore my jeans w/ a black sweater with white collar and cuffs and my boots for our family pictures. (All the pictures are on the photographer's camera) I was melting by the time we got home, (it was SUPPOSED to be a cooler day - someone forgot to tell the weather) so I changed into my bright green v-neck (Loft) until the baby spit up on me. I honestly don't remember what I wore after that.

Saturday, I was looking forward to a low-key day with my family - some shopping, some errands, lunch out... but I dressed up anyhow. I wore my jeans with my periwinkle blue sleeveless shirt with a sequined neckline and my blue corduroy blazer. It looked great. I wore my black heels and my sapphire pendant necklace.

I went shopping on Saturday out of necessity. I was down to 1 nursing bra, so I had to go to the mall and visit Motherhood. Other than the 2 bras, I behaved myself.

It's been a crazy week. I am going to be sad to see my husband return to work tomorrow, but I think other than that, I am glad it is over.

Day 16

Wow.
I got 4 hours of sleep Sunday night, so my outfit really showed that. But I stuck to my 30! (Until the baby threw up on me, anyhow!) My brown t-shirt can be dressed up or down and today it was really dressed down! Brown t-shirt (Target), denim shorts (Motherhood - at least 8 years old, as they were my BFF's first) and Birks. The only time I left the house was to run to Starbucks to get a (much needed) Caramel Brulee Latte and wish my SIL a Happy Birthday (she works at Starbucks and this year got a visit from all 3 nieces and her nephew while at work).

No pictures. Nobody wants to see the bags under my eyes. Here's hoping Monday night is better...

Day 15

Sunday's outfit happened by accident. We were hosting Thanksgiving at our house for our immediate families (those we have lived with at our childhood primary residences and their current significant others and offspring). Basically, the only one we were missing was Gigi (my Gramma). I had lofty goals of looking nice and polished and they were screwed up by the discovery of an unknown huge wet spot found on my jeans when they were discovered on the floor of the bathroom. Since we're having potty wars around here (ie. Fuss is putting forth some potty training efforts - finally) I didn't risk it and had to hurredly wash my jeans. Unfortuantely, I never finished drying them until the day was over - laundry got started, but they never made it the dryer while I was dealing w/ all the preparation and celebrations.

I wore my short-sleeved collared green knit shirt w/ that shiny green crystal necklace I love so much and my jean shorts. All were pieces from my 30, so I figure it counts, but the combination of dressy on top and shorts (and maternity shorts at that!) was not exactly in the plan. But no pictures - we ran out of time.

Fuss is working on her potty skills and we're giving Cookie Monster hand stamps as rewards. So far so good. We're talking one or 2 times a day, but I'll take that over the extreme resistance we've been having lately.

Count down to Disney - one more day! We leave tomorrow and we'll spend a little time at Downtown Disney on Tuesday before spending the day in the park on Wednesday. I'm a little frustrated, since I don't think my SIL is willing to push back bed time on the night we are there so that we can stay for the fireworks and such. I may simply suggest that they take their girls back to the hotel and we'll see them later, since I know Caro can stay up for them and would enjoy them a lot. Plus, you spend so much on tickets and such that I kinda want to make the most of it and spend all the time we can in the park.

Day 14 - Night Out!

Saturday, I spent the entire morning in sweats, because we were having a garage sale. We then met some friends (2 of my oldest friends - we met in Kindergarten and 1st grade, respectively) and their husbands for a triple date of a movie and dinner. (Saw Harry Potter, ate at a great new place that Cherry had a TON of gift certificates for and so no one had to pay for anything!) So I finally got to have an excuse to dress up a bit. My mom was babysitting both kids for the first time (it worked, but she had some troubles) and brought me an early Christmas present when she showed up - a new necklace that happened to go great with my outfit, so voila! a new look!

My outfit consists of those jeans that I'm sure everyone is getting sick of, my black criss-cross tank (Target) and a blue tencel over-shirt (Dress Barn, approximately 10 years ago) and my black boots (argyle knee socks underneath!). I'm wearing silver earrings (the kind I can't wear around the baby anymore since his fingers get caught in the rings and then he pulls accidentally) and my new necklace.

Why I remix/ Day 13

Kendi has been having occasional "guest posts" entitled "Why I Remix" and I thought I'd try and answer that question myself.

I think my reasons are probably different from most - I'm remixing because I had gotten myself into a rut. I'm a SAHM with a two-year-old and a new born - my clothing choices (I can't even call them "fashion choices") are dictated by practicality and functionality and while I rarely (like maybe twice in the last 2 1/2 years) stay in my pajamas all day, I often throw on the same handful of pieces, simply because they are easy and available, I rarely bother with make-up, jewelry, or good looking shoes. I had given up caring about how I looked and I almost never put any effort into it. I had let my weight get out of control and I wasn't feeling attractive - or even that I could be attractive anymore.

But just before my son was born, I turned 30. And just after my son was born, my daughter saw a recent picture of me and announced that it was a picture of "Grandma" (my mother) and suddenly, I realized that I needed to stop looking so old. I needed something to put some effort back into my appearance.

There was a time when I wouldn't have been caught dead in a t-shirt and jeans. I was preppy and I liked it, but I was never sloppy, I always looked nice, always wore make-up, always did at least SOMETHING with my hair. That has changed a lot in the last several years, but I know that I don't have to look frumpy just because I am a mommy.

So I am attempting this challenge in order to kick start my journey back to caring about my appearance. To remind myself that I am a woman, that I can, in fact, be attractive (at least sometimes) and that a little effort goes a long way. And to have an "excuse" to wear some nicer clothes on days when I'm just hanging out with my kids and to remind myself to not just throw on the most comfortable, closest thing I can find.

Day 13 -
I'm wearing my favorite cardigan (I have a thing for argyle lately) by NY & Co. (last fall?) and I'm wearing my cream colored t-shirt (Coldwater Creek - more years than I can remember). My usual jeans, of course (one lesson I've learned thus far - I need more pants/jeans/bottoms that fit), my brown shoes. My jewelry is simple and classic. My oblong disc earrings and my 3 diamond pendant (my husband gave me that for my 25th birthday - our first birthday being married). This is an outfit I've only been able to wear once before - I bought the sweater just before getting pregnant and the t-shirt was too small for even my newly pregnant body. I stretched the cardigan for a short bit, but even that didn't last too long.

My pictures had to be taken inside today, seeing as my husband doesn't get home from work until well after dark these days. The painting in my pictures is my new purchase (a couple of weeks ago) and I LOVE it. I don't even know why, but I really, truly love it.

This weekend begins the craziness that is this week. We are booked with some extra event every single day until Saturday (when the only event is my SIL and her family leaving town - not much of an "event".) I am hoping to continue to post daily, but I may miss a day or two, due to family obligations.

Day 12 - (Pictureless)

My outfit today succumbed to an attack of salsa - and this time it wasn't even the kids' fault. But no pictures. It wasn't a great one anyway - a t-shirt and jeans w/ my Birks - and this was by design. I spent the day cleaning some more and hanging out at Tires Plus getting my oil changed and my brakes done before our trip next week. (Ironically, both my Kindle and my cell phone died while I was there. I talked to my BFF for a bit - probably part of the reason my phone died - watched some Regis and Kelly and read an old issue of People magazine - the only magazine that wasn't car or fishing related while I was there. I also had to feed the baby.)

I'm actually sort of proud of myself. I realized it was oil change time and made all my own arrangements (for a babysitter for Fuss and made an appointment) w/ no prompting from my husband! Very proud. The house is coming along, too, but it's hard sometimes! I'm trying to leave some of the tasks for later because I know that Fuss or one of us adults will just come back and mess it up, but then I look around and see all this mess and get discouraged.

The other night I was making a packing list for our Disney trip next week. 2 nights, 2 days out of town (and Fuss's first time - at least in her memory - of staying in a hotel. And she is really particular about her sleeping sometimes) and 2 kids under 3... I asked my husband if he could think of anything I had forgotten. He said no, just the usual stuff, the obvious stuff and it's just like any other trip to Orlando... and I held up the legal pad I was making the list on - the full page of things I needed to bring with us for ourselves and the kids and he said, "right, so like I was saying, it's a completely different situation this time around..."

We've never taken little kids to Disney before. In the couple of dozen times I've been to Walt Disney World, I was either the kid myself, or the youngest in our group were teenagers who could at least somewhat fend for themselves. (Back when we were the leaders of our former church's Youth Group) or it was just us/all adults. And taking a newborn... oh, how much stuff you need for a newborn!

Day 10 - Yee haw!

I was hoping for a Western look today - I actually had hoped to borrow a big belt buckle to really put it over the top, but that didn't work out - but I think I may have missed. It's okay, all in all the outfit wasn't a disaster or anything...

I'm wearing my jeans (of course) with my blue Loft v-neck tee. I added silver and turquoise earrings that my mom bought on our big family vacation to Colorado when I was 10. (Our only big family vacation. Usually, my mom and I would take summer vacations with my grandparents and dad would stay home. When I got older, my dad would occasionally take us for a long weekend to a short trip somewhere nearby - if the long weekend included a Monday holiday that the store was closed anyhow. He hates to miss work.) I added a huge turquoise ring that my grandfather made for my mother (that desperately needs some silver polish) which only fit my pinkie, but it was still cute. (She actually has a whole set of turquoise jewelry that my grandfather - my dad's dad - made for her. She gave me the ring eons ago, but still wears the bracelet periodically, and the chain on the necklace broke and needs to be repaired. I tossed a black belt on over my shirt and left it a little loose so it would hang a bit. I think this is the element that doesn't look quite right, but then, I'm a little unsure of this look even when the outfit comes with a belt, so I think I might have a bias against it. And of course, I had to wear my boots today, because no self-respecting cow girl would be wearing Birkenstocks or dressy heels on the range. haha. I tossed my hair into high a pony tail - not because it was easiest, but because it seemed to go with the outfit. (I'm not really much of a pony tail because I'm lazy sort of person. Honestly, my lazy hairstyle usually leans more toward pulling the sides back and clipping it with a barrette.)

I took these "part" pictures early in the day and was hoping that I'd have the opportunity to have my husband take some pictures later. Since he didn't get home until 9PM, and by then I was in my pajamas, that didn't happen. I will tell you, though, that I sacrificed for fashion - I wore my heeled boots to the mall and my feet were screaming by the time we were done. I am usually much more practical than that.

Day 9 Started out Fine

I won't say that this is my favorite outfit so far, but it was different and it was kinda interesting. I'm wearing a green, collared pull-over blouse from NY&Co (several years old - like 5, I think?) and my ever-present jeans. I considered wearing the sparkly green necklace from last Friday (LOVE that necklace) but thought it would be too similar to what I wore on Friday, so I went a different direction. I pulled out this hand-painted, silk scarf my grandmother gave me a million years ago. (Seriously. I think it's been in this box for more than half my life. I like it, but what does a 13 or 14 year old do w/ a silk scarf? Especially one with stick-figure people on it?) and tied it at the V so it was kind of like a necklace/kind of like trim around the neckline. It was cute. To mix it up further - and to give a nod to my childhood roots - I put my hair in a low pony tail, loosened it slightly to soften it about my face and added a scrunchie to the pony tail holder (scrunchies never stayed in my hair without help - ever) I added my heart locket and some silver, gold and green earrings and voila! A look is born.

I even went out in this outfit! I loaded up the kids and took them up to my dad's shop where we hung out w/ my dad's manager and my dad for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, I forgot to put on breast pads when I got dressed and just before I fed the baby, I noticed a mildly wet spot on my blouse. I thought I might be able to cover it up w/ the scarf, but then when I fed him, I began to leak much more profusely. I had 2 targets on my chest by the time the baby was done eating and... sigh. I'm telling you - mothers of babies are not meant for 30 for 30 challenges. I had to grab whatever shirt I could find from my pile of dry cleaning that was waiting for me (my dad owns dry cleaners - so I was actually at the cleaners when I stained my clothes) and give my blouse (dry cleaning recommended, of course) to my dad to fix, but it was too late to save it for today, as they were long done cleaning and pressing by this time. Ah well.

Mondays are always hard for pictures, so you get my crazy bits and pieces today.

Day 8 Monday, Sunday

I wore my 30 for 30 clothes yesterday, but the outfit was lackluster. Seeing as the furthest I ventured from my house was the grocery store and that I'd had very little sleep the night before, that I even put forth the effort was commendable. But I didn't take a picture. Does it count? I'm gonna say it does, since I stuck to the rules.

I wore my black v-neck tee (Target - this season!) and jeans and added a long necklace w/ pink clustered crystals. It was obtained from my mom's house, but this was piece of jewelry that she and I shared eons ago and I don't remember who it actually belonged to, only that I left it behind (on purpose, thinking I'd never wear it again) when I moved out. I confess that I threw on my Birkenstocks to go to the grocery store (as predicted - they were part of my 30 for 30 since I knew I would cave. But I think it's the first time I've worn them in public all week, so that's something)

I'm struggling w/ this challenge already - not because I can't come up w/ different combinations, but because they don't work with my life. I abhor tucking things in because A) I have to untuck every 2 hours to feed Little Man and B) I'm still trying to lose weight and tucking in a shirt and then taking a picture of myself makes me realize just how fat I really am right now.

We had a good day around the house, despite the rough night before and the kids not feeling 100% (Fuss had some tummy upset and a mild fever while she was out w/ her aunts the day before. I will sum all of that up by complaining that my sisters-in-law bought and gave my toddler medicine (acetaminophen) without so much as calling to ask me if that was okay. I even talked to my one SIL for a minute or 2 after Fuss had thrown up twice and was not told that that had happened. I don't know that I would have had them do any different, but I feel that I should be informed and consulted when my child shows signs of being ill while in their care. Is that too much to ask?)

Day 7 - a day with my men

My 2 local SILs took Fuss for the day so I spent my day w/ my men. It was quite cool in the morning (even Daddy Fuss wore long sleeves, though I imagine that was to please me more than because he was cold) so I put on my long sleeved tan collared shirt and jeans and found a pretty necklace (also borrowed from my mom) that promoted "Courage" and "Hope" (appropriate for the week of Veterans Day, right?) and my outfit was born. We went down to the city where I used to work, had breakfast at a New Orleans-inspired cafe (beignets! Cafe Au Lait! - actually, I had a Mochachinno - delish!) and he took some pictures of me by the waterfront. These are my favorite pics so far, so yay! for nice pictures.

We came home and worked around the house - we're painting the outside of the house (and by "we" I mean my husband. I did some taping of the trim, but mostly, I sat outside with a pen and paper and we Christmas-planned while he painted. He was okay with that - just liked being together - so it was actually fun. I changed into "work clothes" for that, though, which included a paint shirt and old shorts, but I kept on my cute argyle knee socks.


I ended up talking my husband into convincing his mom to babysit Little Man and I was going to try and come up with a nicer/fancy outfit even though we were just going out the beach for sushi, but the outfit worked and it was weather appropriate, so I just stuck with it.

Day 6 - Green and Sparkly

I had MOPs on Friday morning (I'm posting the day after I wear the outfit) so there is usually a frantic rush through my closet to find something that will be attractive on me and that I didn't wear LAST month but that doesn't look like I'm trying TOO hard because - hey, it's just a bunch of moms... (to prove my point, some moms don't bother to dress at all. One woman today was wearing velour pants (like to a jogging suit) and a completely mismatched top. I won't judge her too harshly, as she is pregnant, and I know how hard it can be to find comfortable clothes when you are pregnant, but... the outfit was awful)

But I like this outfit. Partially, this is because this is my favorite color and partially because I absolutely LOVE the necklace I'm wearing (borrowed from my mom - and she told me that I HAD to give it back. I'm bummed. It's terrific. It's this gorgeous green color and iridescent and very sparkly and while before this challenge, I never wore long necklaces, I am really into this one. I put on black heels w/ my jeans - I love that look on other people and I think it really dresses up an outfit to wear fancy shoes w/ jeans. Even though I have difficulty walking/driving in heels. (I'm not overly klutzy, but I don't feel graceful in them unless I concentrate on walking.)

(Shirt: Loft - last winter, Necklace: borrowed from mom - I believe she picked up at an antique shop)

But this >>> is my favorite picture of me today. This is the best accessory ever.

Several times today at MOPs the discussion of having a boy vs a girl came up. I was honestly able to tell everyone that while I was terrified of having a boy, I am MADLY in love with my son. He is wonderful and I can't get enough of him.

Now, excuse me please, I hear him waking from his nap and it's time to go smile at him.