Nice Surprise

Happy thing #1- Today my cousin called me as she was driving through town. It was so fun to go out to breakfast with her and her husband.

Happy thing #2- I went to the library today, expecting to find one book on hold and was pleasantly surprised to find this stack waiting for me. Five books and two dvds. (Even Dan Brown's latest which was extra-unexpected because I was number 41 on the list two days ago.)

Conversation

Me: Hey, What do you think of my new pants*?

Husband: They are . . . (long pause) . . . different.

Me: They're pajamas.

Husband (surprised and relieved): Oh! They're great.

(*that I got on clearance at Old Navy for $5.)

Halloween Preparedness

I have been gearing up for Halloween by picking up some of the cute Martha Stewart goods at Michaels.

Here is some of the Martha Stewart Halloween paper framed on my wall (a little early but I was in the process of redecorating, so it went up early):

Good For Nothing

(Please do not misconstrue this as a feeble attempt to gain praise from the dedicated readers of this blog. I am not looking for communal encouragement, so please don't comment about how great I am. You can save that for another post.)

I was talking with a group of friends about a month ago. We were figuring out what kind of businesses we would run, if we weren't moms. It was so easy determining the professions for my friends. In less than a minute I could tell you: That one would make a great politician. The next one could easily own a restaurant or be a chef. And the other could effortlessly be a party planner. And if they ever wanted to switch careers, I had no trouble coming up with back ups: Shop Owner (a classy boutique shop), a gardener/landscaper, and a home decorator respectively.

But here's the thing: I wasn't able to come up with anything for me - and neither were they.

NOT that I can't do anything, just that I don't do anything exceptionally well. I can do lots of things, but nothing really seems to be my specialty. Cooking, gardening, singing, writing, running, crafting, decorating, fashioning (I know it's not a word): All things I can do. I'd give myself a strong B in most of these areas, let's even say B+. But where is my A+? What is my specialty?

All this begs the question of why I find the need to define myself in this way. Why do I need to have something I am good at - or said more honestly: better at than anyone else? Besides the obvious (Pride, Vanity, Self Centeredness) I can think of two solid reasons.

1. I think this all has something to do with the recent Big Change in my life: All of my children are gone at school, All day. I have defined myself as a stay at mom for so long, I am not sure how to define myself for those 7 hours a day when they are gone. When they were home I was the washer, cleaner, lunch maker, book reader, the whole she-bang. I didn't have to be amazing at anything, I just needed to be the mom.

They of course, come home each day and I am needed in every same way, but since they have been gone, I've got to thinking. What is good about me beside my mom-ness? What am I good at? Even though my youngest is only in Kindergarten, I realize that someday - sooner then I think, they will be gone and my mom-ness will be a lesser part of the whole of me.

2. My second reason: I have some pretty amazing friends/sisters/people who let me hang around them. They are all talented in many ways, but seem to have a particular specialty that sets them apart. I love who they are and cheer them on wholeheartedly. But being around them, makes me look at myself and think, what's my thing? How am I great?

I had a couple of friends over. (Visiting Teachers for the lds crowd.) In a round about way, this very topic came up. I mentioned how I felt that I didn't have any one true talent that sets me apart.

One of these women, who doesn't even know me particularly well, FIGURED OUT MY ONE TALENT, my specialty. Right there on the spot. Something I haven't been able to do and I've been really thinking about it for awhile. My talent?

Being social.

It's true. I am a good conversationalist. I like large groups, I know how to work a room. I would go as far as saying that I at party, I can be charming even.

I know how to talk to people, almost anyone. And I enjoy it. As I've gotten older, I learned that asking questions and really listening to the answers is even better than talking. Because people are super interesting. I remember things that people tell me so I always have more to ask and listen about the next time I see them.

I didn't realize that some people don't know how to do this. It never occurred to me to label this as a talent, let alone THE talent, because it is just part of me. I don't even have to think about it.

Now, I am not saying this talent of mine has any street value. I certainly couldn't make any money off of it. But U feel really good about this talent, because it truly is something I don't need to be better than anyone else at. I have never found the need to compare myself with people in this area.

It is something I am exceptionally good at so I am just going to be happy with that.

Too late

I hate it when I wait to purchase an item, and then it suddenly, inexplicably, without warning, it goes out of stock.

Here is a pictorial list of things that will never be mine.

Take this skirt, One day: plenty in stock, The next day- nada. The wound is still fresh.

Why, can I ask, does Downeast send out a catalog and then not have any of the items in stock? It is heartbreaking.

I am still kicking myself for the time they had these lanterns at Walmart and I decided to pass even though they were half the price of exact same lantern at Pottery Barn. And now they are gone, never to be owned by me.

Or the one I am STILL sad to not own, 1 year later:

Boyfriend Fit

I love the "boyfriend fit" pants every store seems to be carrying. They are very flattering.



These are both from gap. Problem is, when the cold comes, what shoe do you wear with them?

Good Find

This is the perfect rug for my boys' room. I love the colors in it: orange, brown, green, yellow, red. Happens to perfectly go with their bedding.

Also happened to be 60% off, so that makes it even more perfect.

Health Update

We are still sick. Same sickness, different kids. The boys spent the first days of this week at home. Thankfully, they were both back in school today and doing much better. My oldest on the other hand, decided to join the party and became very ill yesterday. Why not? Everyone else is doing it. So, more trips to Urgent Care, more trips to the Pharmacy.

The good news is that now we know what we are up against: Strep. On a whim they tested for it 4 days ago (at our first Urgent Care visit) and it came up negative. They sent it to a lab for more accurate results and sure enough: STREP! My son just happened to be on the antibiotics for his ginormous spider bite, so he was feeling much better. (Incidentally, after his 2nd visit to urgent care, the Dr. determined all the other spider bites were actually an allergic reaction of some sort. But the big one, yep, that was a bite.)

Even so, I spent several hours yesterday sprinkling this all over the boy's room. Then vacuuming. It is supposed to get rid of insects. Just in case.

While the boys were sick we watched a lot of movies and more Disney Channel than I ever thought possible. The movies followed a theme:

Once my oldest's illness hit, we had to find something else to watch. I picked up this at Target.

Something I've been meaning to do anyway. I also bought a very inexpensive DVD player for my room, because for some reason it seems to be the desired place of convalescing.

And Mark is traveling for work, again. Sigh.

I am ready to be made into a Saint because a week straight of rotating sick children? It's hard. Can they do that if you are not Catholic? Do they have Saints in the Mormon church? I have never checked.

I am ready for a break. Maybe a pedicure. Or a shopping trip. Or a quiet hour spent alone, without a sick child. Or, is it sad that I am secretly hoping that maybe I will get sick and they can all take care of me?

Eliza Magazine

I just ordered a subscription of the Eliza Magazine. I am excited. I ordered it partly for me, but partly for my daughter. I want her to know there are alternatives to the fashion magazines in the stores that are full of clothes we could never afford, wear, or feel comfortable in.

From their website:

"ELIZA Magazine is created for women who want to be stylish, sexy (ed. note: okay, so my daughter is not allowed to be sexy), and engaged in the world while retaining high standards in dress, entertainment, and lifestyle.

The ELIZA reader is educated, creative, fashion-conscious, and on the hunt for clothes to feel comfortable in. We continue to pick up the scent of fashion and modesty and deliver it to your door season after season."

If you are thinking Little House on the Prairie, you can browse their past editions online and see that yes, indeed they have some very cool stuff (nary a bonnet in sight.) Can't wait for it to come in the mail.

How To Spend Labor Day

We are in a hot bed of infection around here. This is the tally thus far:

1 - Child home from school last week.
1 - Child home from school half day.
2 - Children throwing up.
3 - Children with debilitating fevers.
2 - Number of Days fever lasts.
4 - Children with sore throats.
4 - Children needing Tylenol, cuddling and various other kinds of medicine.
2 - Children with Spider bites.
15 - Number of Spider bites on just 1 child.
1 - Spider bite that got as big as my hand.
1 - Trip to Urgent Care that was closed.
1 - Trip to Urgent Care that was open.
1 - Trip to Pharmacy that was closed.
1 - Trip to Pharmacy that was open.
1 - Prescription of antibiotics for said Spider bite.
1 - Phone call in the middle of Sacrament Meeting.
1 - Counselor who got blindsided with my Primary Sharing Time last minute and got to run the show by herself and now deserves a spot in heaven for her goodness.
5 - Number of Family Members who missed all or most of church Sunday.
4 - Number of concerned phone calls from church members.
1 - Number of concerned texts from church members.
1 - Child who inexplicably, hilariously, with great relish and imagination, takes on every symptom of all her sick siblings. (Ahem, A.) When she has not been truly sick herself.

1 - Number of Parents at home to take care of sick children.
1- Number of Parents who were out of town.
(He was cheering on the COUGARS for their victory over Oklahoma, which by the way is completely and utterly an excused absence. I am thrilled he got to go.)

0 - Number of fun things we can do for Labor Day at home with sick children.

My Turn

My personal stylist came over to help me coordinate my closet. I often text Heidi pictures of outfits before I leave the house, to make sure I am not embarrassing myself. She is really worth having on the payroll. Of course we took loads of pictures.

I can wear this with wellies . . . . . . . . Or loafers.


Change the shirt, wear it with navy casual shoes or giraffe print ballet flats.


Belted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or not
Black shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . or ballet flats


Brown sweater with turquoise heels or flats


Maybe add a sparkly belt.


I almost gave away this striped shirt.




I never wear this shirt either. Now I have several options.


I have owned this green sweater for years and never worn it.




I am digging the ruffle. . . . . . . . . but I like the turquoise shoes too.


I wore this today. (but I changed into my COUGAR blue for the game.)


(Some chubby pics - I have no idea why I look kind of chubby in some of these pictures. I blame camera error. Vain, so vain.)


Please note in this second photo I am wearing 2 different shoes. Both go with the outfit and we were getting lazy - didn't want to take two pictures.


I have never worn this turquoise shirt, I will now.


SO. Armed with new ideas, I got myself dressed to go run errands. (Yes, I am wearing my wellies.) How do you think I did?