What are the odds?

What are the odds that I find 2 pairs of jeans. Two pairs of jeans that I like. Two pairs of jeans that fit. Two pairs of jeans that look good. AND I spend less than $50 for both? This my friends is the shopping gods smiling down on me.

These jeans from Loft. (On clearance for $14. And mine don't look so whiskered, mine just look awesome.)

These jeans from Gap. (I spent $25 for a $50 groupon + $10ish of my own cash.)

These are the Gap's Real Straight jeans. They are perfect for the 36 year old mom who is not ever going to embrace the skinny jean, but is cool with going non-bootcut. Plus, Gap redid their jeans this year: no more gaping waistband!

Thank you, Target

I love my new shoes. I love them so much I bought them 1/2 size too big, just because they were the only ones left.

2:03:09

Today I ran for 2 hours 3 minutes and 9 seconds without stopping.


Today I ran 13.1 miles, otherwise known as a Half Marathon. (I'll do the math for you, it's an average of 9:24 minute miles and about 1300 calories burned.)

It wasn't as fast the last two years, but it was a lot faster than I thought I'd do today.


The weather was gorgeous. (The high today is 84 in Kansas City in October.) The course was beautiful. My friends were with me. My family was soccer tournament-ing.

After a bath and a short nap, I am looking forward to a leisurely afternoon. And eating to make up for some of my lost calories.

Switching Around

With the basement nearly completed, we are switching all the kid's switching bedrooms. The office will move down and everyone will get their own room. We are in theory fans of kids sharing rooms but for now their various schools and waking up times make it easier for them to each have their own.

As a surprise for my oldest on her birthday, she came home to this, in her new room:

A closer peek:

The quilt and euro shams are new (pottery barn.) All the other bedding I already owned. The gorgeous Union Jack painting was made by some very talented friends of mine. Isn't it perfection? The Union Jack is a word play on her nickname so she has taken it as her personal symbol. Her and England's personal symbol.

We still need a bed skirt and to hang the picture, but all in all, it is coming along nicely. I think she likes it:

Pity party. Welcome.

The last 7 days have not been kind to me. Last week my daughter had some issues at school. Nothing life shattering. But still took several phone calls to get to the bottom of and robbed me of three night's sleep.

Next my son hurt is knee in soccer. Couldn't walk all weekend. Took him to an Orthopaedic doctor yesterday to find out that he has a bone bruise. Hooray: No surgeries or permanent damage. Boo: He will miss soccer tournament and the end of the lacrosse season. Crutches at school are a pain and healing time is lengthy.

Add to that a husband with a crazy work schedule, which means nearly everything falls to me.

Another stress: We are in the process of switching all the kid's bedrooms around. My upstairs is a disaster and needs some major re-organizing.

While I am at it, I might add, I didn't sleep at all last night because of all these crazy noises that kept waking me up. Mystery solved in the morning: acorns falling off the tree onto our roof and front porch. But trust me, at 2am it sounds like some one breaking into your house to steal your precious children.

Next: Haven't showered in 3 days. I wish I was kidding.

My body is so very tired physically and emotionally.

I am running a half marathon on Saturday.

Pity party over. Thank you for coming.

When upon life's billows:

I have such wonderful kids and we had the very best birthday celebration for my oldest this weekend. She loved every bit of it.

My husband works so hard for our family and really pulls his weight when he is home. Not to mention being such an amazing dad.

I have lost about 4 lbs training for my half marathon. My tapering training schedule is really easy this week. 2 miles, 3 miles, 2 miles.

We had really yummy tortilla soup for dinner last night. With avocado. Thanks T.

Our basement is nearly done. We finish with the carpet today and everything looks fantastic.

When I really look at it, I wonder how I am so lucky to have such a wonderful life.

I feel Gratitude. Humility. Grace.

Sister Love

Do you have a person you set your clock by? I don't mean time and punctuality. I am talking your inner self. Who you are. What you value. What you love. How you live. What's important to you.

My sister Trista is like that for me. I can't remember a time when I didn't look up to her. When she was in high school and I was a completely dorky 13 year old, she made me feel like I was the greatest thing on earth. She is nothing short of amazing, as a mother, as a wife, as a person. I feel really lucky to call her my sister, like a have some secret pass only given out to a select few. I am thinking about her a lot today. I am glad she was born.

So here's to having great people in your life.

Some thoughts on (re)becoming a Brunette

As it has been about 6 months since I went back to my roots, I thought it would be appropriate to share some thoughts on the subject.

First, vainly, I can't decide if I am prettier as a blond or brunette.


The good news is my husband really likes it dark. And his opinion ranks top of the list. I think the brunette is better suited for my eyes and skin tone. I could be wrong. I think the blond washed me out a bit. I was told at first that darker makes you look younger. I have not found this to be the case. I think I look about the same.

Second, keeping up the color is HARD. Not because of gray (no gray yet, thankfully) but because of the RED that my dark brown fades to. In my simple mind, I thought I could dye my hair dark once or twice and then just let the natural grow back in. Wrong! After a few weeks it fades into a (trailer park-esque) reddish brown that is not attractive and not what I want. The constant upkeep has been a major headache. Constant upkeep, I may remind you, is one of the reasons I decided to forgo the blond. Cruel trick of nature to have to work so hard to keep up the brunette!

Third. I do sort of feel like the odd man out among my children.

But fit it better with my sisters.

I have recently found a product that helps keep the red out. It is a color depositing conditioner by Aveda made especially for dark hair. So far, I absolutely LOVE it. It is doing it's job quite nicely. (but stains my hands, I kid you not.)

If you have any opinions on my hair change, I would be interested in hearing them. I do not mind if you want to be anonymous. I do not mind if want to be honest. (I would appreciate you to be kind though.)