Sick HaHa!

I have given HaHa antibiotics, something I really hate to do, especially after reading the many side effects, most of which HaHa would not be able to tell us about. I am also freaking out a little bit because it looks like she is getting a rash on her cheeks, one of the "serious" side effects listed on the Patient Prescription Information. Or maybe I am just thinking that she has a rash because I am a Nervous Nellie. I'll wait until Richard gets home and see what he says...

At any rate, I've got to go. I have to go stare at HaHa.

Oh, I have a new equation: Sick HaHa + Nervous Nellie= Lame outfit and pictures.

Outfit:

Sweater: Clothing swap. J.Crew.

Shirt: Gift. Loupilou.

Pants: Cousin hand-me-down. Gap.

Shoes: Mossimo.

Pre-loween!

We had a lot of Halloween fun today at school. It started with an all-school parade that is one of the annual highlights. Richard brought HaHa, so she was able to experience the glory and the madness. It was a bit overwhelming for her, but she was a trooper, and she even played with some of my first graders. They were very sweet to her.

I thought of a Halloween costume the night before, and Richard was kind enough to make it for me! I never figured out what the numbers he printed on my contestant sign. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

Spending the day with children completely giddy from their costumes and the ritual of Halloween was a lot of fun. They get so excited. It's very sweet.

Outfit:

Floral shirt: Clothing swap.

Under shirt: Friend hand-me-down. Lux.

Jeans: Clothing swap: J. Crew.

Shoes: zoe & zac.

Positive Thinking Day!

Today is Positive Thinking Day! I will use this knowledge to transform my somewhat stressful day into gold! Positive thinking! Positive thinking! Positive thinking!

I actually did not know that it was Positive Thinking Day until I checked my email this evening. Perhaps if I had, my day would have gone more smoothly! Just kidding! The day was fine, but I'm going to parlay this positive thinking thing into a perfect tomorrow! You can tell it's working because I've used 3 exclamation points in the last minute! Yay!

Okay. Time to get to clothes. Today, by some strange coincidence there were 8 teachers wearing purple at school! That's what I call synchronicity! Purple reign!!!






Outfit:

Paisley tunic: Goodwill. I believe this was handmade. I adore the print.

Polka-dot wrap: Thrift store. Express.

Jeans: Clothing Swap. J.Crew.

Shoes: Predictions.

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.

Ingrid, Not Inga!

I realized tonight when I was singing some more choice lyrics from the workshop I was in, that the Swedish girl who helped Maisy escape to freedom was Ingrid, not Inga. When I was talking to my friend about the play, I suddenly flashed on Ingrid's heart-wrenching song where she questions the morality of slavery and Maisy's owner, Mr. Jones: "Look out Mr. Jones, I won't stop now. Ingrid can do more than just milk a cow! You better watch out, don't run and hide. You'll be sorry- you're not on my siiiiide!"

The woman who played the part of Ingrid was an Equity Card carrying actress, as were many of the other people in the production. I couldn't believe that this is what professional musical theater actors had to do. This, as well as many other experiences in the theater, made me realize that, although I love me some musical theater, I did not have it in me to make a career out of it.

It was fun while it lasted though.

Now, on to fashion. Or un-fashion. A few times since I've begun this little project, I've left the house feeling fine, only to be horrified when I upload my pictures. Today was one of those days. I thought this outfit looked pretty cute in the mirror this morning, but in pictures, not so much. As I've been working with "new" outfits, I've developed a sense of what will work and be editorial. At least more of a sense than I've had before. I am learning as I go. Today, I learned that this sweater needs to go.

Any takers?

Outfit:

Sweater (it was chilly today): Clothing swap. J.Crew.

Dress: Forever 21. The top of this dress is really cool. I'll wear it when it's warmer!

Jeans: From friend. Express.

Shoes: American Eagle.

Most days, for the past nine months, Leo, HaHa and I have hung around the city of Santa Monica like vagabonds, waiting for Cha-Cha to get out of school. The little siblings have been troopers. Patient, flexible, and agreeable, for the most part. I am so glad the boys will be at the same place next year!

Sleep Deficit...

I sit in front of the screen, for the first time since I've started really, and know not what to write. A blankness fills my mind and I realize I only slept 5 1/2 hours last night! Therefore, I am tired and at a loss. I never used to need so much sleep, but I guess that's part of getting old.  Back in the day I used to go out to a club, stay until last call, go out after last call, roll in to bed at 3 or 4 and wake up to babysit at 8:00 a.m! I had a regular Sunday morning gig from 9-12, and I never missed it. I was always on the go...

Now, I am on the slow-go.

Tonight, I am joining the amazing Ayiko for a wrap party. I wanted to mention that she is the person who coined the phrase "Treats" that I used in quotation marks a while back. I should have quoted her then, but I didn't. She uses "treats" to mean a variety of things. She might say:  "Hollis has treats in her nose", or  "He tried to show me his treats, but I looked away." Needless to say, she is a riot!

Oh, there is a website for Intact America where you can take a circumcision quiz. I got 6 out of 9! Let me know how you do!

Outfit:
Military Style Jacket: I also got this at a clothing swap, from my very stylish and wonderful friend Jaime. She is an educator extraordinaire, and she founded an incredible tutoring company called Academic Success. She is an inspiration!


Teal Scoop Shirt: This was a gift. It came with a cropped sweater trimmed with faux fur and lace. I guess I'll be wearing it at some point. I am wearing the top backwards. I may turn it around for the party tonight... We'll see!

Maroon Cami: This is by Calvin Klein. I got it ages ago, and it is on it's last legs/straps?...

Jeans: I scored these bad boys at a clothing swap! J. Crew. I always wear them with a long top because they are tighter than I like.

Shoes: Mossimo. From my admissions days!

This is Hollis sneaking in front of the camera saying "Cheese!" My little HaHa!

Superbowl Smackdown!

Go Saints!!!!! Of course, I know nothing about football and The Superbowl is usually the only game I watch all year. Besides my son Leo's. Since it's Superbowl Sunday, I figured no one would be looking at my blog, so I decided to wear the second most hideous shirt in my closet. I think I have one other one that tops it. This one is going to the donation pile soon. I truly don't know what I saw in it. Maybe it was the $4.99 price tag on sale from $17.99 at Target. I think I was there to buy a juicer, but of course I had to stop in the clothing section. This was before the new year and I am happy that my One Closet mandate will save me from shirts like this, and myself!

Outfit:

Shirt: Mossimo from Target.

Sweater: Clothing swap. J. Crew.

Jeans: From Big Sunday fundraiser

Shoes: Fit Flops

This is our feral rescue cat, Rusty. Leo originally named him Coco Butter Formula, which I really liked, but he changed it. He is very sweet and really wants to live inside with us, but we are allergic. He never harms Hollis, even when she is pestering him. He has started giving her the cold shoulder though.

The Day of Rest

I stayed in bed as long as I could this morning, luxuriating in the cozy warmth. Hollis and I had a stand-off last night and she won. I am stubborn, but she has both her mom and her dad's obstinate nature. Lucky her.

Today my plan is to putter about the house. Clean up the piles that are accumulating in every room. Put food in the refrigerator. We have three pomegranates, a pomelo, carrots, and butter. I have been making an effort to use all the food we have and not throw things away. I don't know how it happens, but by the weekend the house looks as though a hurricane has passed through. Oh wait, could it be Hurricanes Charlie, Leo, and Hollis? I suppose that in a few years this will not be the case. I guess time will tell.

I still have to go through my dresser drawers also. After hearing someone say I have "a lot" of clothes, I was afraid to add more to my list. I was going to just stick to the things in my closet, but the year is long, and I only said I wasn't ADDING anything new, not that I wasn't going to use everything in my possession. On that note, a friend came over with a bag of gorgeous, vintage, pieces. I had to turn them all away. However, I did save three shirts for next year, one I plan to wear on New Year's Eve! They were just too good to pass up!!!!

Outfit:

Sweater: Clothing Swap. J.Crew.

Shirt: Friend pass along. It is from Forever 21.

Pants: This was a jumpsuit that had nautical hardware on the straps. I got it at a thrift shop when I was pregnant and I wore it with a big belly. I'll try to find a picture. I'm not sure why I cut it, but I wish now that I hadn't.

Shoes: Fit Flops

Salutations!

Salutations! After the sorrow of yesterday, both from the funeral and the news of Haiti, I am feeling appreciative and lucky to be alive. The funeral was actually pretty uplifting as far as funerals are concerned. The priest shared many sage parables and reminded us that while we are here, we are to love one another and do our best to live a decent life. At one point he asked for adjectives to describe the deceased and as the words "kind, funny, athletic, compassionate, loving, thoughtful, loud, silly and devoted", (among many others), traveled through the air, the ceremony felt very personal and intimate, even though it was in a huge, fully packed cathedral. The priest's name is Father Joe and he is from Nigeria. He has a beautiful accent accompanied by a very rich and warm voice. He also played the saxophone during the procession to the mausoleum. It was mournful and rich. It filled the void.

I still have to do my review. Perhaps I'll wait until Friday and make it my 2 week-er.

Outfit:

Shirt: I found this at Goodwill. I had seen a shirt of the same cut and shape with a different print, and said "I wish the print was different". I stumbled upon this a bit later! I'm pretty sure it's handmade and I love the fabric. The slit is also a nice detail. I believe I bought this when I was pregnant because it was a good cover-up before I was ready to share the news.

Jeans: Another clothing swap score! These are from J.Crew.

Boots: Hand-me-downs!

Jacket: I either bought this at a thrift store or it was given to me. I can't remember!

Hollis: Especially clingy today! God love her!

Malibu Bound!

After a hectic first week back to school complete with dental work, the car battery dying while en route, and a VERY cranky post-op husband, I decided to drive the kids out to Malibu for a mini-escape. The last two days with Richard have been especially difficult. He is snippy, irritable, moody, and in pain. All of his negativism has made him appear quite unattractive, and if this continues, we will break up, and he will have gotten the vasectomy in vain!

To be fair, Richard's mood swings are pretty similar to what I might experience with a bad case of PMS, but to have two people in the house with this kind of peevish energy is too much! I look forward to Richard returning to his cheerful, unflappable self! We need at least one anchor in the house to keep us sane.

By the way, Richard does not agree with my above statement at all. He says, "You're just like France right after 9/11: all sympathetic the first day, and two days later, you say 'it's no big deal, stop being a self-centered jerk!'"

Outfit:

Shirt: Alicia Lawhon, given to me by friend

Skirt: Purchased at Marshall Fields in Dallas the summer before I started 10th grade. I was heavier at the time and I got it because it covered me up. It is a very versatile and easy piece to travel with, and it is great for the beach because I can pull it up and get my feet wet.

Sweater: I got it at a clothing swap. It is from J. Crew. It is very soft and cuddly, and after the crazy week I've had I need to be swathed in comfort!

Shoes: Fit Flops. They are comfy, but I have not noticed a difference in the leg department!