Summer's End!

We enjoyed the last day of summer with friends and leisure, a trip to the mall, and a little food shopping because our cupboards were very, very bare. I tried to get the boys into bed early, but it was not as easy as I would have liked. They were asleep by 9:00, which isn't too bad considering how late they've been up the past few weeks.

Once they were in bed I did my best to send HaHa off, but she would have none of it. I decided that I would go about my business, and pretend that she was not awake. That led to many an adventure for HaHa as I cooked and cleaned, and tried to organize things for the upcoming week. As it got later, I got more frustrated and less patient with my darling HaHa. I was getting flustered. Richard was at work, where he spent last night as well, working later than anyone should have to on a holiday. Or perhaps he has a secret family...

At 11:00 I decided I could take no more and I put HaHa in her bed with her favorite sleepy music. To my surprise she did not resist, and she was out in just a few songs! I can't remember the last time HaHa put herself to sleep, so I am hoping it is a sign of things to come!

Richard came home at midnight.


Outfit:

Dress: Goodwill. My "end of summer dress". This was one of my last purchases before my project started on January 1st. I went to Goodwill with Ayiko because I thought I should get a few things to "fill" my wardrobe, but once we were there I realized that that would defeat the purpose of the project and I only got this dress, a crazy belt, and some shoes. I got this dress because it had a little Anthropologie in it.

Shoes: Mossimo.

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.

218 Down, 147 to Go!

Okay... so every once and a while I have to remind myself of what I set out to do with this project, and that is: A - Not shop or collect more clothes, and B - Get out of my clothing rut.  When I say "not shop", it is not that I did not want to spend money, but rather, I wanted to limit my consumption of new (and used) materials, and challenge myself to use what is already in my possession. I also wanted to get out of my fashion rut, i.e.: jeans and shirt uniform.

So how have I done so far? Well, I have definitely worn hundreds of outfits that I have never worn before, and that, to me, is pretty cool. The introduction of the "no repeat" rule was enough to widen my wardrobe horizon, and make me get creative with my clothes. I promise you, if you want to feel like you have a new wardrobe, just vow to wear something different every day! It really works. You will see your old clothes with new eyes, and you will be surprised.

I have four months to go, so you will probably start recognizing more things as I wear them over and over... and over. I have recently started having major "Outfit DejaVu". I get out of the house and on my way to wherever I'm going, and I think "Oh no! I wore this already!" Blog death by default. However, every time that happens, when I get home and check my computer, I'm safe. My blog is still alive.

Outfit:

Lace shirt (under): Thrift store. Half of a dress that I cut on a whim.

Polka-dot skirt: My mom gave this to me at least 15 years ago. Express.

Denim dress: Goodwill. This was an eighties wonder that I de-constructed. It had big puffy sleeves that I tore off, and an extra tier that I took off.  Seen in: Attack of the Silverfish!


Shoes: Predictions.

Downtown!

Today I took a little impromptu trip Downtown with Tay-Tay and HaHa. Tay-Tay had to get her newly re-sized engagement ring fixed, and I offered to accompany her. After we dropped off her ring, we strolled the streets and ended up in Pershing Square, the Metro station, the historic Alexandria Hotel, and a strange little shopping area complete with electronic fish tanks and velveteen dogs!

It was very fun to explore the city and see the interesting folk that roam the Downtown streets. For those of you who are interested, the Alexandria hosts free movie screenings on Wednesday nights. On August 4th they will be showing (500) Days of Summer in the Mezzanine for free! Refreshments are complimentary, and downstairs is the intriguing restaurant The Gorbals. I'm not one for chicken-skin sandwiches and haggis burgers, but I'd love to try the bacon-covered matzoh balls! Mmmm... bacon!

Outfit:

Shirt: Getting ready for my trip next week! I got this on the street in NYC several years ago.

Black shirt/dress: Forever 21. I bought this for a wedding when I was preggers with Leo.

Skirt: Salvation Army. I got this skirt in high school. That means it is SUPER old!

Shoes: Predictions.   HaHa in front of a rad sign!

Some creepy dolls at the bazaar.

The Jonathan Club!

Today, Richard's company hosted a beach day at The Jonathan Club, which proved to be quite lovely. I hadn't really wanted to go, because I hate to schmooze, but I ended up talking to people I wanted to, and it was great! There was yummy food, a water slide for the kids, and cocktails! Drinking on the beach in the afternoon! How decadent! (My exclamation point addiction is rearing it's ugly head!)

My poor husband has been working non-stop for the past few weeks. We actually have not seen each other since I left for Comic-Con. Today was the first time we have spent time with each other in two weeks. Literally. We've talked on the phone a lot.

Last night, he said he would be home at midnight, and, at four a.m, I was startled from my sleep by the cries of "Mama, mama!" I sat up and realized that Richard's side of the bed was empty. I rushed to get HaHa, and then I immediately called Richard. He was still at work. Four a.m. and change. I was relieved he was alive.

Now, another interesting that happened at this four a.m. wake up call was that upon entry to the kid's room, I found HaHa was not in her crib. This was my second shock of the early morn. No Richard. No HaHa. My little not-yet-two-year-old was walking up the stairs. In the dark. That means she climbed down the stairs in the dark. Yikes!

At first I thought that perhaps one of the boys lifted her out of her crib, but seeing that they were asleep, I quickly had to realize that my HaHa bear can climb out of her crib. Richard told me last week that she was out of her crib, but again, I thought it was the boys. They have gotten her out of her crib a few times before when she was crying. I guess that was wishful thinking.

Today, I asked my Ha if she would show me how she got out of her crib. After a little nudging, she agreed. Richard and I put her in her crib an we video taped her escape. Three times she made her exit with perfect execution. Richard is going to try to embed the footage here. We'll see if it works!

Below a shot of the progeny in action!

Outfit:

Shirt: This was a gift from my first grade class. One of the mothers, a gifted artist, had the children draw leaves, which she turned in to stencils, and painted on the shirt. American Apparel.

Dress: I got this at a street fair in New York over 15 years ago. The label is long gone. Seen in: Happy Anniversary!

Slip: I got this at a thrift store a long time ago.

Shoes:Prediction.

Sweater: Hand me down from friend. Alfani. There is still a lot of chill in the air!

By the way, it is 2:30 a.m. right now and Richard is still working! I fell asleep earlier, so I am posting while he works!

Molecules!

Today I gave what might possibly be the worst lesson in my life. It was about molecules, and it was based on a lesson an actual science teacher told me about. However, without a science background, and a deep understanding of the subject, my lesson was shoddy at best. I was lucky that I had one student in my class who knew all about "hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen". He also knew about the periodic table, atoms, a bit about molecular structure. A different student knew some more interesting facts about molecules, including the fact that you need a "special microscope" to see them. Thank goodness they were there! They provided a buffer for me, and a little comic relief. I was seriously laughing when I discovered they had the answers I seemed to be lacking! Oh well, I tell my students all the time that I'm not perfect, and I don't know everything!

There, Richard. You have it in writing!

Outfit:

Shirt/dress: This was a gift. I love the colorful print!

Skirt: One of my Salvation Army high school finds! It's falling apart, but I'm hangin' on!

Shoes: Fit Flops. I was actually going to wear my favorite platforms, but I was wearing these outside and forgot to grab my other shoes.

More cranky HaHa...

At least the boys are happy!

In The Stars!

Today, when I got into the faculty lounge, the first thing I did was look at my horoscope in the Calendar section of the Los Angele's Times. Here is what it said: "Aries (March 21-April 19): The way you put yourself together is a gift to others. The special care you take assembling an outfit pays off." Ha! Today I hated my outfit. My shirt especially. I got it for a friend's Sunday morning summer wedding. At the time, it seemed to fit the bill. Now, however, I feel like it needs to go. It will go in a few weeks at the clothing swap I am hosting. Thank goodness! This is definitely a "What was I thinking?" shirt.

Now, as for the outfit as a whole, it lacks inspiration. After yesterday's declaration of getting to bed early, I finally put my head on my pillow at 1:09 a.m. I woke up four hours later to a crying HaHa, and I got out of bed an hour and 15 minutes after that. I felt awful, so I grabbed my black death garments and threw on a "fun" top. It didn't cheer me up, but being with my new summer-schoolers did! I have realized after doing this for half a year, that how I dress is very much dictated by how I feel. It's nice to know.

My half-way mark is in two days! I feel hopeful!

Outfit:

Black Shirt: From Friend. Alicia Lawhon.

Black Skirt: Forever 21. Pregnancy buy.

Tan skirt: (underneath) Thrift store.

Polka Dot Shirt: Goodwill. Forever 21.

Black Sweater: Old Navy Maternity.

Shoes: American Eagle.

Back room business!

A Welcome Escape!

Today, I got to get into the classroom I will be occupying this summer, and I got to go to a graduation party for a very promising young lady! The graduation fete was called a "Get Out of Jail" party because the young lady who was being honored did not really relish high school. That is to say, she received more enjoyment from working after school with children, people with Down's Syndrome, volunteering, and participating in theater. She realized that there was much more life to live beyond the walls of her school, than in her school, where her peers seemed concerned with shallow and trivial pursuits. And, apparently, she is not a fan of teenagers.

We have something in common.

One of her teachers was at the party and he had nothing but glowing things to say about her, so it is not that she doesn't enjoy learning and studying. There were also many other guests with praise for the graduate. It was a very fun and happy occasion, and I am so glad I got to be there. I will leave out the antics of my children while we were at the party...

On a completely different note, today when I was working in the classroom, I was trying to help HaHa turn on a computer, which she was determined to do, and she pushed my hand away and said "I do it!" It sounded like, "I'll do it", and Richard and I started cracking up! She said it again later, and I'm sure she'll be saying it again. That's my little independent HaHa bear!

Outfit:

I got a sun burn when we were at the park a few days ago, so I opted for a racer back tank today. These past couple of days my shoulders have really killed me. I wanted to be comfy so I paired it with these kick around corduroys. Of course when I got dressed this morning I wasn't thinking about the party later, but I manage to spruce up my outfit with just a couple of tweaks!

Print Shirt: Forever 21. I really can't resist a fruity print!

Brown Pants: Goodwill. I.N.C.

Sweater: Hand me down from cousin. Merona.

Shoes: Fit Flops.

Tweaked by adding:

Gold Crop Jacket: I got this for 5 buck at Walmart when I was visiting my mother in Hanson, Mass. 

Shoes: Patricia Field's for Payless  that I got for 12 bucks! I was looking for shoes for the boys a couple years ago, and I went to peruse the 10's. I saw these and snapped them up! I wish I had bought a second pair because they are soooo comfy!

Pants: I took the elastic bands I had around my wrists earlier in the day and gathered the pants at the bottom so they were more stylish, and less frumpy... At least I hope they were!

Polling!

I realize that I never addressed the poll results of my "Did You Vote?" question. The total number of votes was quite low, especially in comparison with the last poll. I can't say that I am surprised. It is actually quite apropos.

When I saw the number of votes on the June 8th elections, I was shocked. In a city of millions, the votes were in the thousands. To be more precise, out of 1.6 million registered Los Angeles voters, 290,000 of them actually managed to vote on June 8th. That's fairly discouraging considering you have the opportunity to cast your vote by mail. You don't even have to get to the polls anymore...

I must say, I am not surprised, but it is a bit disappointing. How do we take our right to vote for granted? How do we not vote when the city and state is in such crisis? What happened to the overcrowded polling places of November 2008? Where did the hope go?...

I guess the hope, like everything else in politics, is going down the crapper. And why wouldn't it? Almost two years into the Obama era, and everything feels pretty much the same as before. The hope that was palpable that November eve feels lost and empty. Afghanistan. BP. Health Care. Bail outs. Our further estrangement with our "allies", Guantanamo Bay, Don't Ask, Don't Tell...

I'm not asking, but I'm telling you, something's rotten in Denmark.  

Outfit:

Thai Skirt: I decided to wrap this and wear it as a shirt while I was fooling around with what to wear today. This was one of the first gifts Richard gave to me. He got it while he was touring South East Asia.

Sweater: Hand me down from cousin. Merona.

Jeans: Hand me down from friend.

Shoes: zoe & zac.

I've included a family "portrait" that shows what I have in store for me when parenting HaHa.  She is crying because I am holding on to her while she is perched on the four- foot slanted wall. She wanted me to let go...




 

Up The H!ill

Today we spent the day at the park. There was tree climbing, riding downhill without helmets, snacking, walking through a swarm of bees, playing, climbing up a huge, huge hill, and a lot of merriment.

One of the most hysterical things was HaHa pushing me away and saying "No, mama", as I tried to spot her during her tree climbing. She is so stubborn and fearless that it is quite scary. People on the playground were watching her and shaking their heads in disbelief as she climbed a 6 foot ladder and launched herself down slides without any hesitation. They were also surprised by her heckling of much older children. "No! No!" she exclaimed as she tried to dominate the equipment. She is really something. Her desire to be like her big brothers overshadows everything. Whatever they are doing, she is doing. She is like the chihuahua who thinks it's a pit-bull. She is cray-cray.








Outfit:

Grey Tank: Urban Outfitters. I got this a million years ago and it is starting to die. I will definitely get another one of these in heather gray in the future.

Silk Dress: Goodwill. I got this to wear under things. But I thought I'd wear it as a top layer today. I wore it backwards for "ba-ba" purposes.

Print wrap skirt: Goodwill. I always love anything sparkly!

Under skirt: Thrift store. Also a million years old.

Shoes: Fit Flops. I would have worn better shoes, but I knew I was going to be doing a lot of walking today. 

Here are some moments from the day. You can see HaHa's antics as she tries to prove she can hang with the big boys. By the way, the equipment HaHA was climbing with abandon was designed for 5-12 year-olds, according to the sign...

Father's Day!

We had a lot of Father's Day festivities, so it was go, go, go around here. Richard's mom returned home, and we were sad to see her leave, and sad also that we apparently gave her some form of the sickness we had. Every time she visits, we get her sick. We also expose her to more noise, mess and chaos, than she probably gets all year in her lovely Northern California town. What can I say, we are a wild and crazy bunch! I'm sure it will calm down here in a few years.

I only took three pictures of myself in my outfit before I dashed off to the car, so please forgive me for the lameness. One of these days I'll get it together. Famous last words...

Outfit:

I was going back to fourth grade today- rockin' the pink and purple! I wore so much p and p it hurts to think about it!
Purple Shirt: Emma & Sam. This was a bubble shirt that I deconstructed. I am wearing it inside out because I like the effect. I will never, ever wear any bubble clothing again. It's a look I don't think most women can pull off. I call it a "nut storage shirt." Here is the original in Facehook! but it's hard to see...

Purple cami: Old Navy.

Pink Skirt: This was given to be my friend, but it turns out she got it from her amazing mother Maia. I love the movement of this skirt, and I always feel earthy in it!

Sandals: Capezio. Same as yesterday.

I'm including some family photos in lieu of writing about our day!

Take Me Away!

Today was one of those "Calgon, take me away!" days. When I was a child, I used to be mesmerized by those commercials. There was something captivating about them. The chaos and exasperation, perhaps. They gave me a glimpse into life as an adult that I could only wonder about: "Is it really that bad?"

Turns out, it can be. When it is, most of the time, I blame hormones.

I have learned in my old age that hormones are VERY powerful. I actually learned this little golden nugget when I became pregnant for the first time. I was all about my immediate personal needs, and my needs were dictated by my body. I had never been so in touch with my physical self. When I was hungry, I was ravenous. When I was tired, I was practically narcoleptic (Luckily never at my job or on the road). And, when I was cranky, I was a mega-nasty bee-otch. It's hard to believe Richard and I survived those nine months. But in truth, I was really happy for most of my first pregnancy because I just couldn't believe that it was happening. With Leo, not so much. With HaHa, I was in total shock, and I was completely paranoid that she was going to be deformed, or that something was wrong with her due to the fact I took antibiotics not knowing I was with child.

So, that's three pregnancies in 6 years, and lactation for approximately four and a half years (and counting). And, all the while my hormones have been wacko. I am assuming it's normal given the circumstances, but sometimes I wish it weren't so. Just the other day, I came up with an equation: PMS + Rambunctious children = The fifth circle of Hades.

I just can't wait for menopause!

Outfit:

Striped tank: Goodwill. Abercrombie & Fitch.

Black shirt: Hand me down from cousin.

Skirt: Thrift store. This is another skirt that used to  be a dress. I don't know why I cut it, because it was totally cute. I think I just got tired of it as a dress, but I liked the print.

Shoes: Capezio. These are so, so comfortable!

I've included some photos of HaHa bear because she has some fans! And one of Lee-lo and his shadow.