Black Out!

I worked again today in second grade! It left me scrambling at the last minute to put something together that was new. Or, not worn before, I should say. In the morning my children really slow me down. This means that time I could have spent picking out more interesting duds was spent prodding Charlie and trying to get Hollis out of my arms. I was not really in love with my outfit, but I had to leave, so I was stuck with it.

When I got to school, it was a "gathering" day. Gathering is a weekly ritual where the entire school comes together and celebrates music, or learns about a new subject, or shares what their class is working on. It is usually quite special, and always a good time. Today five women from a celebrated choral group called SuperDevoiche came and graced us with their amazing singing! It was captivating and joyful and the harmonies were exquisite! I really cannot say enough about it. It was also the best time I've had in a while because at the end of their presentation they invited all 200 and some odd children to get up from their seated positions and join in a folk dance with them.

When the Choral director asked the children, "Do you want to dance?!", the looks on the teachers' faces were those of sheer horror. This didn't deter the director and she and her singers were such great sports. By the end of the dancing, the circular formation that the 200 plus children made was closing in on the two musicians playing in the center and it was very surreal and absurd and one of those events you wouldn't ever imagine happening, because it is magical and rare.

Outfit:

I'm not much of an all black wearer, but I started piling it on today. I gave it a little color with the blouse, which has a print I adore. I am going out tonight, so I am wearing the same pieces. I am removing the black sweater, pulling up the skirt, and changing the shoes! Easy-peasy!

Black sweater: From cousin. I wore it once this week under the poppy shirt.

Print Blouse: Forever 21. I got this when I worked in Admissions.

Black skirt: Forever 21. I bought this when I was expecting.

Shoes: American Eagle/ Predictions. 

This is the kids enjoying Movie Night (Max & Ruby). This is the only time there are completely silent and still besides when they are sleeping!

Death and Taxes!

Oh NO! I am sitting down at the computer for the first time today, its late, and I just looked at my photos  and they are not good! I had to work today, so I threw something on without much thought. The only thing I did think about was, "Am I repeating?" Once I was certain that I was not wearing a repeat, I quickly went about my morning madness.

I felt fine in my outfit all day. I even got a couple of compliments. But when I saw the pictures I took of myself upon arriving home, I thought "Yikes! What was I thinking?!" I look totally preggers, and the layers are not working today.

Speaking of being preggers, last night I spied a suspicious curve in my belly as I got ready for bed. Given Richard's recent permanent procedure, I knew what I was thinking was impossible, but I still got a little nervous. Maybe I wanted to believe I was pregnant because then I wouldn't have to admit that I had eaten one too many slices of cake in celebrating my birthday last week. Cake and drinks and pasta and sorbetto and bread...


On to pictures! I am hoping Hollis will save me today because she took the cutest photo ever! See Below!


Outfit:

Tunic: Goodwill. I believe this is handmade. I love the print! Seen in: Salutations! and Surprise!

Dress: From friend. Ella Moss. Seen in: Non-Buyer's Remorse!

Cap sleeve jacket: Forever 21. Seen in: Into The Woods!

Shoes: Predictions.

Night Noise!

Last night, for some reason unbeknown to me, Hollis was up for about two hours. It was somewhere between madness and hilarity! She was singing, dancing and playing. She went over my facial features ad nauseum, poking me along the way, "Eyes, nooo, mow (like cow)..." She mimicked Richard's snoring, sat on my head, tried to go into Charlie and Leo's room, kept taking her diaper off, and entertained herself fairly well. I got out of bed three times to bring her back into our room. I didn't want to put her in her crib because I was afraid she would wake the boys or try to climb out. She has already attempted to climb out of her crib several times, and she is very close to succeeding. The girl is a dynamo!

Today the boys climbed on the front porch wall and she followed them right up without a moment's hesitation. It's about a two foot drop, but that doesn't scare my HaHa! When I think about it, this is the second time this week Hollis has been playing in the middle of the night. I think this night waking is part of her next developmental leap. She is starting to talk a lot and I think this is making her more restless. Last night I wanted to get the video camera to record her sounds and songs. But I was too tired to get up. Her little voice is so sweet, albeit a wee bit annoying when one is trying to catch up on some zzz's. Who knows, maybe tonight will be round three? I'll keep the camera close...

Outfit:

This is another outfit where four out of five pieces were given to me. The only thing I bought was the teal shirt which was a pregnancy purchase.

Blue sweater: From clothing swap. Express Studio Design. Seen in: Host Party!

Teal shirt: Forever 21.

White embroidered skirt: From the lovely Ayiko. Free People.

Green Belt: From Ella Moss dress given to me by the lovely Wendy, creator of awesome I heart Guts!

Coral skirt: From the lovely Lesley Alexander. Seen in: 100 Posts! I am repeating the coral skirt, red shoe combo! Oh well, I'm sure it's bound to happen again, I've got 252 more days to go!!!

Shoes: Lower East Side.

As I write this post the boys are in the backyard wrestling and going crazy on each other. I told them they had to go outside if they wanted to act crazy and they bounded out with glee! A 15 year old, 6 1/2 year old, and five year old boys going wild! Yikes! Hollis wanted to join, but I made her stay in and she cried. Poor little girl!

You can see Hollis playing in the car behind me as I take photos. I tried to take photos earlier in the day, but the light didn't work! Hollis' dress/shirt is from a thrift store too!

Back to the Grind!

Today, I woke up early, made lunches, helped get the boys ready and fed, and scrambled to get myself dressed before rushing out the door. Oh, did I mention that Hollis woke up at the last minute which threw a wrench into my timely exit? Grandma's here, so I was going to leave her behind. She has mom-dar though, so she knew I was trying to ditch her.
 
After I dropped the boys off, it was off to Trader Joe's, then back home, back out to pick up Leo, then Charlie, then off to the dentist, and home again. Needless to say, the magic of spring break, with it's no need to rush about, and no getting up at a certain time, is over. I felt like a hamster running in the wheel of life. But I guess that's better than being a dead hamster.

Oh, did I mention that when I was at the dentist with the boys I ran into a parent of a former student and I had a bunch of nuts in my teeth? The whole time we were talking I stared at his gleaming pearly whites and tried to surreptitiously remove the particles from between my teeth. Very embarrassing...

Oh, did I mention that this is my worst post ever? Or second worst...

Outfit:

Black sweater (Under layer): From cousin. Tulle.

Poppy Print Knit Shirt: Goodwill. Moschino Cheap And Chic. Also seen in: Riddle of the Jinx!

Tweed Skirt: Walmart. George. Seen in: Into The Woods and Tuesday Blues and Rainy Day Yays!

Jacket: Allegory. Also Seen in: Casual Friday! and Barbies!  

Shoes: Lower East Side.

Housekeeping!

Looking at the conditions of our house today, I started to wonder if I was barking up the wrong tree. Maybe I should be committing myself to keeping my house clean for one year, instead of wearing a different outfit each day. Forget one year, how 'bout  a week? Or two days even?... All right. I'll take a day.

Despite many efforts to keep a clean house, all it takes is one meal, or one art project and BAM! Our house is a mess. From clean to messy in 10 seconds!

I've talked to other people and they say this is normal for a house with three young kids and a teenager, but still, it's a little disheartening. I dream of the day when our house is clean more than it's a mess. The day when it doesn't look like a hurricane just passed through our home...

Thinking about this has prompted me to stop writing this post immediately and to start cleaning up! After all, it is spring!

Outfit:

I am still sticking with my no laundry plan, and it is helping. I am very afraid of inadvertently repeating, so this is a good tactic.

Green Shirt: This is an Old Navy maternity shirt, that I kept and still wear.

Purple Shirt: I've worn this shirt once in FaceHook!, but I decided to alter it after deciding that I really dislike bubble shirts because they look like you're storing nuts for the winter. I separated the gathering and now it hangs more freely. I belted the shirt with a belt from a dress I have seen in Non-Buyer's Remorse! Shirt by: emma & sam.

Pants: Goodwill. Editor pant from Express. Seen in: The Luck of The Irish! and Strawberries For Leo!

Shoes: Goodwill. Jellybeans.

Don't forget to tell me how many shirts you have! You will be integral to letting me know how sane/insane I am! xoxoxo-S!

                    This is Hollis' idea of a good time. Climbing on top any unstable object and seeing if she can avoid falling!

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!

37!

Okay. First things first. I failed to mention in my post yesterday that Richard was also an integral part of the TWO surprise party planning. I thought that he helped plan the parties, but I was in a rush and not completely sure, so I just gave credit to Pollyanna. Sorry Richard! You're the best!

As I reach this age where I am closer to 40 than 30, I realize, emphatically, that mother nature, or God or the universe definitely has a sense of humor. When you are a young woman in your late teens and early 20's, you are at your physical peak. Your skin is smooth, your breasts are pert, you can stay up all night and still get up the next day to go to work, you can eat what you want, more or less, you don't think so much about your future, you're idealistic, and life is fresh. However, even with all of this physical power and fearlessness, I felt so horrible about myself most of the time. I was confused and sad and awkward and imbalanced. It was only at the end of my 20's that I started to feel good most of the time. By 30 I was feeling great, and now I feel super duper!

That said, things are bagging and sagging and wrinkling and crinkling, and I feel like I am really starting to look my age... and feel it! After the kickboxing class I took last week, my whole body was sore. That didn't happen in my 20's. Not sleeping. I'm starting to learn it doesn't work. I spend the next day feeling awful and drinking too much coffee. I have many days like that. Anyway, before I ride off on my bike  with Richard, to celebrate my birthday by watching the Clippers, I must say thank you to all for the birthday wishes, and for supporting me with this blog! I am very flattered and honored that people take the time to look at my crazy outfits! And, dinner at Bottega Louie was wonderful! I highly recommend it, and the company was perfection!

Outfit:

I started the day with a bike ride and brunch. I decided to stay in one outfit all day for ease, although I added the beautiful antique necklace my mother gave me today, and fancy shoes!

Shirt: This is the shirt that goes with the belt I wore yesterday. My cousin gave it to me. It is French Connection.

Jeans: These are also from my cousin. Gap.

Brown shirt: Goodwill. Mossimo. 

Sweater: From friend. H&M.

Vest: Eastern Mountain Sports. Very old.

Sneakers: Wanted.

Shoes: Old Navy.

Barbies!

I have to write a quick post today because I am running out of the house to meet some friends for a sort of birthday dinner that I was tricked into. I said I was not having any birthday celebrations until I was 40. Not because I'm ashamed of getting older, but because I had a few years of a lot of birthday extravaganza, including TWO surprise parties that the honorable Pollyanna organized because I found out about one. She staged a "fake" surprise party where I pretended to be surprised, and then really got me a week or so later when I had no idea what was coming. I think I screamed. It was very surreal.

I spent the late morning with Hollis visiting my friend and Supported Birth founder, Jana. She had some of her teenage daughter's old Barbies out for Hollis. We talked and and had great time, and eventually we dressed the Barbies, and Jana showed me a pregnant barbie doll she had gotten in Israel where the stomach pops off and there's a baby inside, and a flat stomach you turn over to cover the space where the baby was. It was pretty awesome and something I've never seen before. They don't make them anymore because people freaked out about them. However, you can still find them on the net, but they are very expensive. Fun fun! Have more to report, but I will try to stop myself from blabbing as usual!

Outfit:

Note: Two of these elements have been used together already, but you see how you can make a completely new outfit simply by changing a few things!


Shirt: I believe this is from the 2005 New York International Children's Film Festival. I fashioned it a few years back! Also seen in Casual Friday! Belt from another shirt from cousin.


Printed Skirt: Goodwill. Over another plain black skirt from Forever 21.

Jacket: Goodwill. Allegory. 

Shoes: These are from Target and I got them on sale for 7 bucks or something. I left them at my mom's two summers ago, but I told her to bring them back with her because I need them!

All The Good Ones Go!

After writing about Shaugn yesterday, I started thinking about our other friends who left L.A. awhile back, John and Lourdes. John went to high school with Richard and they had many a crazy time together. I often hear stories about "The time John Brown..." (insert crazy story here). Well, Richard and John had drifted apart some after high school, but, at out 20 week prenatal appointment with Charlie, we bumped into John and Lourdes at our OBGYN's office. They were also at their 20 week check up (a milestone in pregnancy) and thus, John and Richard were reunited. I made some new and welcome friends. Our first sons were born a week apart, and Nicholas Brown will always be Charlie's first friend.

Now, even though I had Charlie when I was 30, a not so young age, none of my friends had, or were having, babies. I guess it's a big city thing. It was an interesting time for me and I was happy to have John and Lourdes around, to share new parent concerns and joys with. John and Lourdes are also incredibly funny and clever and kind and they have amazing children. Needless to say, we were devastated when they told us they were ditching the city and heading north for greener pastures. However, just like with Shaugn, it made sense, and we understood. We also love visiting them!

I have recently learned that one of my oldest and dearest friends is moving back east for at least two years, and although I am totally depressed about it, I have come to realize that all the good ones leave L.A. I keep my fingers crossed that they'll come back and I make sure to spend time with the good ones that are still here! Like today for instance. I reconnected with a high school friend who has two adorable kids and a lot in common with me. It was great to see her and watch all of our kids play together and to know, that for better or worse, this crazy city is our home.

Outfit:

Pale pink sweater with pockets: From friend who is moving east! Seen in: Guilty! Unfortunately, the pink doesn't come through in the photos.

Striped shirt: From friend. Gap.

Jeans: From cousin. Old Navy. Wearing them a lot lately!

Shoes: Fit Flops.

Forgive the late post! Long and crazy day!

Will Rogers and Me!

"The only time people dislike gossip is when you gossip about them."

"Never miss a good chance to shut up."
                             
                                     -Will Rogers

My friend Erin invited us to Will Rogers State Park for fun and fresh air today. I was excited, but I had to force the boys out of the house. Literally. Partly because they wanted to stay with Grandma (who arrived yesterday), and partly because they are homebodies... or at least one of them is. I also think that on vacation they need a lot of down time because pretty soon it will be back to the daily hustle and bustle. I wouldn't ordinarily force them to do something they don't want to do, but I thought they could use the exercise and it was a beautiful day.

Now, interestingly, there was unlimited space for the kids to run and play, but we had to constantly tell them to go off and enjoy the space. When we were at the zoo yesterday they were running and climbing on things and I kept having to stop them.  Go figure. Today, the thing they enjoyed the most was kicking and throwing dust on each other in the stables. That, they could have done for hours, but we stopped them after 30 minutes because they were getting dust in the babies eyes and making a mess.

Together, Erin and I have six kids. She has two girls and a boy, and our kids are very similarly spaced. I find that Erin, more than most people I hang out with, understands the crazy of my life. She gets the constant movement and noise that comes with three kids. The dressing and undressing, spilling and cleaning, yelling and managing, chauffeuring, preparing, explaining and calming, and constant, constant need. As soon as someone's needs are met, there are usually only a few moments before the next person has new and unmet needs and it goes on and on. I suppose this is why I hear "I don't know how you do it" so often. Actually, I usually hear that when one of the kids (or all of them), is falling apart or up to no good. I think "I don't know how you do it" is code for: "You are crazy for having three kids lady!" However, I do it, we do it, because along with all of the chaos is a lot of fun and love and humor and purpose. I also have friends and family that help me through the really crazy times. And Richard, who does a lot. Jordan helps out too.

I have another brilliant friend named Shaughn who also has three kids about the same age as mine. She too, understood the madness. Not only did she get it, but she made homemade meals, and banana bread and kept a clean house and was always glowing and hilarious. She moved to Atlanta where her sisters and mother are, and although I was distraught at the thought of losing her presence, I knew it was the right thing. I miss her and her and her lovely family so, so much. I hope that right about now she is sitting down, after putting her babes to sleep, and enjoying her first few moments of silence in the day.

Outfit:

Printed Shirt: I am fairly sure Pollyanna gave this to me. Then again, it could be from a clothing swap.

Pale green shirt: Definitely clothing swap. Old Navy.

Pants: Goodwill. Moda International. Also seen in: Thursday's Child! and Passive Hairgressive.

Shoes: Fit Flops. I would have preferred other shoes, but I knew I would want to go barefoot in the park. The flops make it easier!

Kick Boxorama!

Every time I do a super lame post, I have to remind myself that I'm only human. I haven't been doing this blogging thing that long, and, out of 365 days, at least 30 of my outfits are probably going to stink up the joint. That said, when I look at yesterday's outfit, coupled with my bad pictures and writing, I think: "What if this is the first time someone is looking at this blog?" I have to hope they poke around the site and find some of my more thoughtful posts and cuter outfits. I also have to keep reminding myself that the purpose of this project is to wear 365 different outfits created with clothes I already own. It is not to be on the cutting edge of fashion, or to invent new trends. I am simply challenging myself to mix it up and be more creative. I am also trying to show that thrift store clothes can be stylish and versatile, and that I don't need anything new even though temptation abounds! Lots of people have offered me clothes, but I have to refuse this year. Nothing new, even if new is used.

This morning I got up at 6 a.m. to go to a Kickboxing Bootcamp class at Seido Karate Hollywood Dojo. I almost talked myself out of it at 5:55 because I love sleeping and I don't get enough of it. However, I also don't get enough exercise and I am turning 37 in four days. It is time to start improving my bad habits. I am old enough to know better!

Outfit:

After my return from the gym, I had to get ready quickly because we had a birthday party to attend. I kept on my exercise tank (Yikes!) and threw on these jeans. They are a little on the snug side, so I decided I needed something to cover my more out of shape parts. I also started off with a black sweater underneath, but it was hot when we got to the Zoo (where the party was), so I quickly took it off.

 Magenta Dress/Shirt: Thrift store. I got this in High School. I am not sure if it is one piece of a two- piece dress, or what, but it is designed by New Leaf  California!

Black tank: Champion.

Jeans: From friend. Express.

Shoes: Airwalk.



A kick boxing move from this morning. Not sure if I am cut out for it!