Better!

Oh, what a Hot Toddy and a long night of sleep will do! My nose has stopped pouring like a faucet, and I feel well enough to go to work and flourish tomorrow! That said, I was still pretty ornery today. Maybe because even though I was not feeling well, I still had to do many things I did not want to do, which included buying groceries. That is the only reason I got dressed today.

I guess that's life when you're a grown up. No playing hooky anymore...

I remember the days when I was single in New York. No one to answer to. No bed time. Sometimes I could sleep all day. Although I rarely did. Not my style. I could go out every night of the week and do whatever I wanted. I only had me to think of. I never cooked and I rode my bike home across the Brooklyn Bridge at the craziest hours of the day and night. I only had me to think of.

Once, when I was riding across the bridge at 3 a.m.,  I heard some wheels behind me. I was a little bit startled, but the cyclist passed me, and a while later we caught up with each other at the red light near the end of the bridge where the street began. We said "Hi," and talked about how nice it was to ride on the bridge when it was quiet and empty. We continued talking as we rode further in to Brooklyn and talked for at least a half hour when we stopped in front of his place. At some point he asked me if I wanted to come up for tea.  I said, "What if you kill me or something?" He said, "Don't you think I would have killed you by now if I wanted to?" I realized he had a point. So, trusting my gut, although now it sounds crazy, I went upstairs to his place and had a cup of almost 4 a.m. tea. We talked about California (he was from there too), The Beach Boys (he was a huge fan), and about exes. He was in the process of separating from his girlfriend even though he was still in love with her. I had also just gone through a tough break up, so I guess we were kindred souls.

I rode home when the sun was just coming up, and I never saw Mr. Brooklyn Bridge again. Crazy, huh?    

That's New York for you.

Outfit:

Shirt: Goodwill. Banana Republic.

Dress: Hand me down from friend. Ella Moss. I'm wearing it backwards. This project has made me much more experimental with my garments. It's freeing!

Shoes: Capezio.

Buried Treasure!

I've talked about my love of thrift store shopping many a time on this blog. I really do love to thrift store shop! I really, really do! It is meditative and contemplative, and it is a slow process. You pick through the racks and look for cast-off gems. It really doesn't work so well when you're in a rush. It's almost like shopping in a time capsule. And, now and again, you find some real treasures.

A long time ago I found such treasure in a New York thrift store. I don't even remember which store it was, but it was in Brooklyn, and I found an amazing polyester leisure suit. It was metallic with an awesome tropical print, and the pants were bell bottoms! I bought the suit, even though the pants were too tight, because, in my heart I knew they would fit me one day. (Ah, that famous phrase used by hopeful folks everywhere; One Day.) And, because I couldn't pass it up. It was such a great find.

Well, when I moved I had some clothes that I put in a suitcase in my closet because I was either saving them for sentiment or in the hopes of wearing them one day. I didn't think about these when I started my project because they are mostly impractical garments. However, just for fun, I pulled the suitcase out last night because I have a wedding coming up soon. I wanted to see if there was a dress I could wear. I was surprised and excited when I saw my leisure suit. I had forgotten about it!

Anyway, I tried it on. The pants fit! Finally! I decided to wear the jacket today, and you will be seeing the pants in the near future. Maybe I'll wear them to Back-to-School Night...

Outfit:

When we left for the zoo this morning it was chilly. However, by the time we started walking around, I had to lose my new found treasure.

Shirt: (under) Forever 21.

Striped Shirt: Goodwill. Banana Republic.

Jeans: Clothing swap. J. Crew.

Jacket: Thrift store.

Shoes: Predictions.

HAIResy!

 From Wikipedia:

"Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma...The founder or leader of a heretical movement is called a heresiarch, while individuals who espouse heresy are known as heretics. Heresiology is the study of heresy. 

 Etymology: The word "heresy" comes from the Greek hairetikos "able to choose" (haireisthai "to choose"). The term heresy is often perceived as a value judgment and the expression of a view from within an established belief system."

I am pronouncing myself a Hair-etic. Despite popular opinion, I believe that my children, with their wild and crazy locks, are fine. I don't feel the need to tame or control or style their hair. They are little kids, and they are fine. All yesterday, I kept looking at HaHa, and thinking she looked like a boy with her new fancy hairdo. I like her crazy curls just the way they are. And yes, they do get frizzy when she sleeps on them, or rubs her head against the car-seat, or puts food in her hair. 


As for Charlie, he happens to have some of the thickest, most dense, hair I have ever seen. When it gets wet it glistens as if it had dew drops on it. If you pour a cup of water on his head, his scalp doesn't get wet. When he sleeps on his hair, it gets extra frizzy and dry. I have been looking for product to put in his hair in the mornings, but I haven't found the exact right thing yet. However, the reason why I keep Charlie's hair longer than some people care for, is because he likes it. He doesn't want me to cut it short, although the more people talk about it, the more I'm sure the more he will get self-conscious about it. 


When I was out with my sister and the kids on Saturday night, she was surprised when a stranger complimented Charlie's hair. He gets a lot of compliments on his hair, actually. However, he also gets a lot of negative comments as well. I really don't understand why people are so concerned with the hair of my children. When they are older they can decide what they want to do with it. And, I do comb Charlie's hair, by the way. We'll see what happens after he turns seven tomorrow!


Outfit: 


Print shirt: I got this in the Bronx a few years ago.

Striped shirt: Goodwill. Banana Republic.


Pants: Goodwill. I.N.C.


Shoes: Capezio.

A Theory!

As I spent day three with HaHa in constant misery mode, I happened upon a theory: perhaps she is so unhappy because we have reached the beginning of weaning. When I was in San Diego, my milk production slowed waaay down. However, it didn't stop altogether because I was handling a stunt baby. She was two months old, incredibly adorable, and I felt my milk let down when I was holding her.

I had to pump a few times, just to let off some pressure, but I tried not to because I had this idea that HaHa would give up the "bah-bah" while I was away. Of course, I should have known she wasn't going to do that when she said "bah-bah" every time I talked to her on the phone. "How are you, HaHa?"... "Bah-bah". "I miss you"... "Bah-bah"... "Are you having fun with grandma?" "Bah-bah"...

At any rate, when I finally got home and got to nursing her, it felt like there was very little milk coming out, and it continues to feel this way. Perhaps all of HaHa's wailing, and it is more crying than she has done in her entire 21- month old life, mind you, is due to this loss. I did not anticipate this. I hope the change is temporary because it is really tearing me up. My sunny bear is just miserable. I hope that it will pass soon.

Outfit:

When I can't remember what I've worn, I make sure to include at least ONE piece I know I have only worn once or twice. I grabbed these pants first, because I just got them from the dry cleaners.

Striped shirt: Goodwill. Banana Republic.

Floral leisure shirt: Salvation army. This was a high school find.

Pants: Forever 21.

Shoes: Mossimo.

At The Races!

Today my dad thought it would be fun to take his kids to the race track. His middle son just got back to California yesterday by way of a leave from the Air Force. So what better way to celebrate than by gambling?! His eldest son is returning to his post in the Air Force tomorrow. His youngest daughter drove here from Arizona yesterday. His eldest child and his youngest child both live in California, so we traveled the shortest distance. My dad has five children! My youngest brother is the same age as my stepson.

When we got to the track my dad was set on picking horses for the first race. Charlie helped us, and once we had them all sussed out, my sister and I set off for snacks. Everything at Hollywood Park was not to our liking, so we decided to take off for Trader Joe's because my sister was craving hibiscus flowers.
While we were at the store we got a call from my father saying we had won the first race. Yay! However, the cashier taking his bet put "2nd Race" on the ticket. Boo!

Even though the cashier admitted his mistake, we could not get our money. My father decided, after talking to the higher ups at the park, that we were getting our betting money from the second race back, and getting the hell out of there! We coulda' been contendahs!

I still got to spend some time with my little sibs and my pop. That's just as good as winning some cash!

Outfit:

I finally did some laundry for myself! It's looks like I had  a Goodwill day!

Striped shirt: Goodwill. Banana Republic.

Polka-dot shirt: Goodwill. Forever 21. 

Jeans: Goodwill. Gap.

Shoes: Mossimo. 


When Richard and I went to pick HaHa up from her Grandma Palver's she had these sweet little flowers in her hair! Her Auntie did it!

Reality Check!

Okay. So when I went out to my birthday dinner on Friday, Pollyanna said to me, "You have a lot of clothes." I replied, "Really?", with a somewhat incredulous tone because, although I do know that I have plenty of clothes, I cannot imagine that I have way more than the average woman does - especially when I've been into some closets that are twice the size of mine and have clothes from floor to ceiling.

Also, the fact that at least a third of my clothes were given to me always makes me think of the fact that it is not just that I have a lot of clothes, but that I keep a lot of clothes. I take things based on potential, possibilities, and because they are cute, even if they are not perfect. I also, as I've said before, have some things that I've had since high school. These items have traveled across the country and back, several times, and some sit in containers in the garage. I am thinking of three dresses in particular. They are highly unwearable (they are gowns, really), but they have sentimental value, so I hold on to them. If things start to go south and I run out of outfits, you'll be seeing them, I'm sure!

It also amazes me when I think of the clothes I've gotten rid of over the years. I see them in pictures, remember them, and sometimes wonder why I got rid of them? There are a lot, and they are gone.
So... can you help a sister out? Can you tell me where I am on the spectrum? Am I a crazy clothes whore, or an average Jane? Am I outrageous? Or moderate? Somewhere in between? Please, please take the quiz on the side of this post! Inquiring minds need to know! Many thanks and a million kisses! I'll be puting a new item of clothes up every couple of days. Let's start at the top with shirts!

Outfit:

Brown dress: Goodwill. Seen in: Spring Forward! Second wear since I bought it long ago!

Red Dress(worn as skirt): Goodwill. Old Navy. I am wearing it backwards so you cannot see the embroidery on front. I thought it would be too busy w/ the stripes. Seen in: Riddle of the Jinx!

Striped shirt: Goodwill. Banana Republic.

Shoes: Predictions.


I made this necklace by taking apart a pair of earrings that I didn't care for. The fishing wire is from another broken necklace I had!

This is the kids playing together this morning! Their favorite thing is doing something that could potentially end in bodily harm!