Multi-Tasking!

I had an impromptu get-together with my BFF Pollyanna. We decided very last minute to meet up at the new "New Mall" to have a nosh and some drinks. When we were kids, the Santa Monica Place was erected and we had a brand new locale to hang out and shop. Our former stomping ground across the street, known as the "Old Mall", was over.

The "Old Mall" had a Woolworths, a few dive-y restaurants, and a bunch of other stores I can't quite remember. Before the "New Mall" opened up we would roam up and down the three blocks between Broadway and Wilshire, and find fun things to do. Often we would do those things in peculiar outfits and forbidden eyeliner. At least, eyeliner was forbidden for me. One time I remember that my aunts were driving down the street and they happened to see Pollyanna and I walking to the mall wearing makeup. They called my mom and I got into BIG trouble. Makeup was a big no-no. It's kind of funny that I don't wear makeup now that I'm a grown up.

The new life that was breathed into our social scene by the Santa Monica Place was a welcome change. We would get smoothies, raid the Sanrio store, and walk around in mens boxer shorts singing, "We're the Joe Boxer Tattoo girls. We're the Joe Boxer Tattoo girls..." Our friend Sarah was one of the masterminds behind that little adventure, too. Good Times!

I was walking around the renovated Santa Monica Place with Pollyanna tonight. 28 years have gone by and we're still two girls, roaming around the mall, talking about boys and clothes!


Outfit:

White knit shirt: Old Navy.

Blue Shirt: Emma & Sam.

Pants: You saw them yesterday. Isaac Mizrahi!

Shoes: Predictions. I think I am going to have to ditch these soon...

Back-to-School!

The kids go back to school tomorrow! It is exciting, and scary, and strange... Do I really have a seven-year-old? I guess I do. Not to mention a 15 (by proxy), 5, and almost two-year-old. Oh my god. It's true - I'm an adult!

I guess I should not be surprised. It seems that it's been a long time coming...

Today I experienced something I've had happen to me many a time on this blog: I wear something out feeling very cute and put together, and then, when I see my photos of said outfit, I feel lame. It doesn't hold up. I did get a few compliments on my ensemble today. Three cheers for Red, White, and Blue!

Okay. I went to bed at 1-something and woke up at 6:30. I'm a little punchy and I really have no idea what I'm writing. I'm sure I will scare people off with this post, but hopefully I will redeem myself one day! Alright. To bed!

Happy Back-to-School!

Outfit:

Shirt: Gift from mom in high school. I love it even though it is fading and falling apart.

Pants: Isaac Mizrahi.

Shoes: American Eagle.

Sweater: Salvation Army. Express.

HaHa sleeps for a change!

Promises, Promises!

While I deal with my almost-two-year-old wild child NOT going to bed, I am also thinking about my "Bittersweet Melancholy" post. However, just when I think I am going to dive into some deep reflection about my trip to New York, HaHa gets right in my face and screams "Ha!". It is 11:30 p.m., mind you. She is also doing upside down bridges on the couch, and now, right this instant, she is drooling on my arm. I'm not kidding. The girl is out of her mind. And very cute...

My mom flew back east today. I got up at 5:20 to drive her to the airport, was home by 6:25, and crawled back into bed where I dozed until noon! After staying up until 3 in the morning and running all over NYC the past few days, I was pooped! Richard gave me a hard time, but I tried to explain that I hadn't slept very much in the past week, or at least not very well. At any rate, I feel like I'm babbling and HaHa is still wide awake as the midnight hour approaches. However, I do see some small signs of her fading. Fingers crossed!






Outfit:

I had to throw something on quickly because I needed to drop something off. I threw on some jeans and focused on putting together a shirt combo that I knew I hadn't worn before!

Green shirt: Clothing swap. Old Navy.

Striped Shirt: Hand me down from friend. Forever 21.

Lace top: Isaac Mizrahi for Target.

Jeans: Hand me down from cousin.

Shoes: Zoe & Zac.

Grandma and the kids at her good bye dinner. We had Peruvian food at Mario's. Yum!

Political Parties!

Today we hosted one of our political parties in order discuss the ballot measures in the upcoming elections. We have these whenever there are state elections and Richard is the arbiter and master of ceremonies. Richard is quite knowledgeable and opinionated and the highlight is watching him debate politics while throwing back shots of booze. One year he fell down some stairs. Another year he made someone cry and leave. True story.

The political parties are the most fun when people with disparate views discuss their opinions. Or, when people dare to challenge the master of ceremonies. He can tend to be quite boorish at these things. However, we have some feisty and knowledgeable friends, who are not afraid to stand up to The Richard. Yesterday, we even had one attendee who declared "However Richard is voting, I'm voting the opposite!" In the end, she found they were actually on the same page for the most part. Her statement was really a testament to the strong emotions The Richard inspires at these parties. Perhaps it is merely that Richard is not afraid to talk openly about political matters, as many of us have been warned not to do. Or perhaps it is the booze.

The ballot measures were a breeze this time around, but we know the party for the November elections is going to be a doozy!   






Outfit:

White Shirt: Purchased long ago in a store in NY. It's got to be at least 15 years old. Matches. Believe it or not, I used to rock this bad boy all on its own, thereby showing my tum-tum, which I was quite fond of. No longer, but I wear this shirt UNDER a lot of other things.

Purple camisole: Old Navy.

Pants: Isaac Mizrahi for Target.

Shoes: janet & janet.

This is actually the first outfit I can think of where everything I am wearing was purchased in retail stores brand new.

The Compact!

One of the exciting things about writing this blog is that it has introduced me to a variety of like-minded people who are doing really interesting things! One of these people is a woman named Angela Barton who has a blog called My Year Without Spending. She joined a movement/group called The Compact at the end of 2008 and vowed not to shop for anything for one year! She completed her year of time, and now her blog continues with helpful and useful tips for living a less cluttered life filled with more thoughtful consumption. On Tuesday she had a post about getting rid of junk mail and credit card offers once and for all. On Monday she talked about the Meatless Mondays campaign which invites carnivores to let go of their meaty habit at least one night a week! It's good for your health, and it's good for the planet! Shazam! That's what I call awesome!

On Angela's site she has a section called Thrifty Threads, and today, I was her featured model!!! I was so excited that she featured me on her blog, and she said some very flattering things about me. She also said that I inspired her to go through her closet and pull out some things she hadn't worn in a while and try some new combinations! This is exactly what I want to hear! The whole point of this experiment is to look at my wardrobe with new eyes, and hopefully get some people to look at their closets anew too! Perhaps I should get some people to model for me. I was actually thinking about going to people's houses and creating a "new" outfit for them from their old clothes... Any takers?

One last thing. If you don't normally read the comments on these posts, you should look at the comment from "Two of Seven" on yesterday's post. It is from my amazingly brilliant Aunt Diane. She is hilarious, and you can see why she is one of my idols! I heart you, Aunt D!

Outfit:

Simple again. Still nursing my hurt heel, so forgive the Fit Flops day three appearance!

Shirt: Goodwill. I love, love, love this shirt and it had been in a ball in my closet because it needed to be hand washed and it had several stains. I actually bleached it, which made it a little brighter than it had been before, but the stains are gone and I can wear it again! It has no label, but on the side label with the washing instructions there is Japanese along with pictures. 

Sweater vest: Goodwill. Urchin. Seen in When's Day?

Pants: Look familiar? They should. Same as yesterday. Isaac Mizrahi for Target. On sale for 8 bucks! I got these when I was preggers with Haha. I wish I had snagged a second pair because they are cotton, sturdy, and very cute! Also seen in Lissie!

I Heart Mom!

When I was Google-ing Giselle the other night I happened upon a link that said that Home Births are temporarily illegal in New York! I was really surprised because I hadn't heard anything about this.

It's really the by-product of St.Vincent's Hospital closing after 160 years of service in Manhattan. This seems so shocking! It is so sad that a long standing member of the community has to shut down. And as for the midwives, I can't imagine being told you can't deliver the babies you've been waiting to bring into the world. And the poor moms and dads! Imagine being prepared to have a home birth, then being told at the last minute that it is illegal for you to go forward with your plan. Actually, my last home birth was almost derailed by a two week post-date baby, so I feel like I can imagine it. However, I was fortunate enough to have the birth I wanted to have, which is something every woman should have the right to do. I hope the city figures it out soon, so that the babies in waiting can be born at home! 

On a side note, last night Leo asked me if he was a "delicate boy." I wasn't sure how to respond, and I also wasn't sure where he heard that phrase. I chuckled to myself, and gave him the best answer I could which was, "Sometimes."

Outfit:

After several days of layering mania, I decided to go for simple and thematic. This is a nod to Sunday!

Shirt: Old Navy. Graphic tees are always in style and you should definitely hang on to the ones you love! Giving a shout out to the woman who brought me into the world. And the other mamas to!

Pants: Target. Isaac Mizrahi.

Shoes: Fit Flops. Still nursing my hurt heel.

  Thinking of the festivities coming up on Sunday I want to give a shout out to the ones who made me a mom!  C-dawg is showing off Alvin, one of his favorite friends.

        



    Those brown eyes kill me!

Pot Luck!

I stayed in bed as long as I possibly could. I have to thank Richard and my Aunt Janine. We are going to the final parent pot luck for Leo's class. One last time to mingle before we go our separate ways in June.
There will be Margaritas and tacos. What more could a girl want?

I am not writing a lot today. I am hoping the blog police don't report me. I waited until 5:30 to take my pictures, so the light was against me. I went back between flash and no flash, and the pictures were a little dicey.

Outfit:

Lace Empire waist shirt: Isaac Mizrahi for Target. I got it for 7 bucks!

Grey Pencil Skirt: Goodwill. Zara.

Sweater: Friend hand-me-down: H&M.

Shoes: Patricia Field for Payless. I was looking for shoes for the boys and I saw these. They were on sale for 12 smackeroos.

By the way, it just started to pour, so I may be heading to the shin-dig in my handy dandy rain boots!

Lissie!

Lissie was absolutely amazing and the look on my face in my picture today is the bliss I felt listening to her phenomenal vocals and wonderful songs. Her voice just cuts through the noise and pierces your heart. She is the real deal. She also brought tangerines from her tree for everyone in the audience!

After the show I got to have some much needed girl time where we discussed race, post-birth "treats"(Ayiko's word) and everything in between. I wonder if guys talk about this stuff. I'm thinking not, but maybe they do and they pretend that they don't.

I have a confession. Although Lissie was blissful, I just took horrible pictures today and I didn't feel like re-taking them. I thought the bliss line would fly, but I realize people aren't that dim. I also have to run because it's a Farmer's Market day and if I don't get to Santa Monica early, I'll be late to pick up Leo.

Hollis is still under the weather, but I do think she is getting better.

It is 75 degrees today! 

Outfit:

Green and white knit shirt: Mossimo from Target. I got this when I was pregnant. Not sure if that was a good idea.

Shirt underneath: Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Pants: Isaac Mizrahi for Target.

Shoes: Fit Flops.

6 a.m....

I got called at 6 a.m. to sub today. Fourth grade here I come! Hollis woke up when the phone rang, so I had to wake up and get dressed while trying to "entertain" her. I threw this outfit together in a flash and tried to get out of the door as quickly as I could. Of course, with 3 kids this is nearly impossible.

Once I got on the freeway I was distraught at the HORRIBLE traffic. On the way to school we passed 6 fender benders! The final accident I saw included a teacher at the school I work at who happens also to be my best friend's boyfriend. What are the chances?! Today is the first time I have posted away from home, and I had technical difficulties.

Outfit:

Brown Shirt: From Goodwill.

Sweater with Floral detail: Goodwill. Lux.

Pants: Isaac Mizrahi for Target. I got these for 8 bucks!

Shoes: Airwalk.