It’s a Party, and I Can Cry Because I’ll Have Waterproof Mascara

Quick confession: I used to sell Mary Kay Cosmetics™. The judging stops NOW!

Moving on. A friend of mine has invited me to a Mary Kay party. It has been roughly ten years since I have been to one, much less used their stuff. That doesn’t mean I don’t own some still, though mostly perfumey stuff. Usually I dread going to these parties because I have awful skin, and usually buy into the hope that this time I will find something that will make my skin look perfect and flawless. That is silly, of course, but I can still hope. Prayer doesn’t hurt, either.

Surprisingly, I am looking forward to it. I have come to the realization that I am a homebody. I don’t go out much, and when I do, I tend to come home early because of the kids. I do my chores around the house in total silence, forgetting about the radio or the CD player, and sometimes feel like I’m in a tomb, at least until Little One comes home and watches Disney Channel. I need to get out more, and make new friends, and if that entails going to a make-up party and buying something that guarantees to take years off your face, I will do it!

I just hope that stuff isn’t botox 😉

I Need to Invest in a Rake

I have temporary custody of my sister-in-law’s sheltie. It is a very pretty, very fluffy dog.

It also barks a lot.

Anyway, I usually sit with her and comb her coat before Eldest gives her a bath. One thing about this dog: she LOVES getting a bath. She also LOVES being combed. And finally, she LOVES getting her coat blown dry. I think she was a princess in a former life. But boy, does she ever shed.

I know you can’t tell very well, but that pile was the stuff I combed out. And it didn’t even make a dent, people!! She fluffed herself up again, and I could see little bits of fluff floating down to the ground. If I can’t use a rake, I will start using the vacuum on her coat.

At least she was happy!

The Dress is Here!!

And it’s beautiful!

And MAROON!!! Ok, burgundy is the “official” color.

Yes, I will wear it and have photographs done, before passing it on to someone who I’m sure will make the dress look even more beautiful. Eldest tried it on, and now she wants one. One she can also give to a girl who needs a red dress.

I am so blessed to have such great kidlets 🙂

This Day is Like a Joke

And yes, I mean that. I started off today by getting up with the alarm, only to find myself knocking glasses and phone off the nightstand. As I scrambled off the bed, I stepped on the glasses. Picking up the phone, I shut off the alarm on it, and turn off the little light it gives, so not only do I walk in the dark, I do so without my glasses, which HILARIOUSLY leads to me stubbing my foot on the Turkish chest at the foot of the bed. No worries, as I finally manage to get slippers on, and walk out of my room in time to trip over the little dog who is SO GLAD to see me she barks over, and over, and over…

Making my way to the kitchen, I remember I was supposed to change two spotlights, and sigh in the mediocre light as I fill the coffee pot with water, only to find I had forgotten to wash it out yesterday. As I turn to get the coffee grounds, I trip over Miss Attention and fall against the counter, spilling coffee everywhere. I scoop it up (hey, it’s still good!), and finally get the coffee started, going on to wake Eldest first, since she takes a bit longer to get ready.

Finally sitting down to drink my coffee, and I realize I had forgotten my pajama pants.

Yes, my friends, it’s that kind of day!! Make sure to enjoy it!! 😉

I Need an Intervention, or More Space in My Closet

So y’all are familiar with my quest for the perfect tote bag, and how it happened that Vera Bradley finally had a print that I really, really like. Well, I didn’t just buy the tote. I had to buy the stuff that matches, too. And they also had another print I liked, one that was more… autumn. Anyway, now that I have acquired my tote bags and purse and stuff, I have to make room for them in my closet, which means I have to get rid of the stuff I don’t use.

Last night I started to clean out the “purse stockpile”. Now, I am not one to buy purses just because they are pretty and have a fun print or it’s on sale. Ok, maybe the “on sale” bit is true. But I did go through a period where I was looking for the “right” purse. My sister has a really nice one that looks like a tote bag (heh!), one I gifted her (double heh!), but one that would be way too big for me. As I took stock of my purses, I noticed that they were all roughly the same size, and same color: small to mid-size, and shades of brown. Brown goes with everything, see? So does black, but I only have one, and it’s an evening bag. Go figure.

Now, I have made a rule for myself: for everything I buy, two things of equal volume and/or mass have to go out*. Hubby can’t stand having a lot of “stuff” in the house, so this rule will help with the clutter. I wanted to count furniture in that rule, but our furniture he likes, so that’s out. But pretty much knick knacks and sundry is fair game. This Spring will sure be fun….

*Except fashion jewelry. That’s on a one-to-one ratio 😉

Fairytale Versus Reality

I love fairytales. My favorite Disney™ animated film is still Cinderella. Oh sure… I like most of them, even with the creative license the screenwriters take, though sometimes they take it too far (*cough* Pocahontas *cough* Little Mermaid *cough*). Reading them in their original wording is far more sinister and suspenseful than Stephen King.

The other day I was chatting with Hubby via text messages. He had mentioned he had seen a children’s book of stories at the market, and had recognized some words. I had to laugh, because he told me he tried reading Goldilocks.

Me: Not to spoil it for you, but she breaks into a house, steals food and breaks furniture, finally passing out from her wild rampage.

Hubby: Really?!? She seems like such a nice little girl.

Me: Her name is a thinly veiled reference to her cat burglar days, when she would break the safe locks to steal gold. Do not be fooled!!

Hubby: Hehehe…

And of course, the ultimate fairytale has to be The Wizard of Oz.

Placed in appropriate context, any story can be a fairytale. Likewise, any fairytale can become bitter reality.

It’s all a question of angles 😉

Feeling Lost

Sometimes I wander through the house, looking at pictures on the wall, wondering how Time passed so quickly. I see my children making decisions about what to wear, and how to style their hair, and even what kind of milk they prefer, and wonder when I was demoted from that job. I look around me and feel lost, no longer sure of my job here, or if I’m doing a good job, or even if I still have a job. I see them losing patience with me when I restrict their TV habits or tell them a certain movie is too adult or scary for them. I hear their sighs when they have to explain to me where they will be, and with whom, and when they will come home, and who is chaperoning the event. Sometimes late at night, I cry for what I have lost, knowing I won’t ever get it back, and wonder if they understand that it hurts me to see them splintering the bounds of childhood. Being a parent is not just tough. It’s extremely painful and sad. But it’s also wonderful and full of joy and happiness.

And through the pain and the fighting and the struggles, I know I would never change any of it. I only pray that when it’s their turn that they have it easier. And that they have a new appreciation for their mother 😉

Because Plans Go Out the Window Once You Begin Execution

Last night I was awakened by the sound of rain. At first it was very nice, but soon enough it turned into a racket, my headboard being against the outside wall being pelted by it, and the thunder adding to it. Most people would sleep right through that, but not me. Why? Because I have a fraidy cat for a dog. I just knew she was going to be upset and whiny, and wanting to have company. Sure enough, she was at my door, whimpering until I got up and went to lay down with her until the storm passed.

Two hours later the storm was still going strong, and I am so grateful we got the rain, but the dog…. she would NOT let me sleep. So I stayed up with her until about 3 AM, when it turned into a more steady rain. I got in bed just in time to get a text message from Hubby, telling me it was snowing so hard where he is at that he couldn’t see the river. So we conversed by text for a while, finally letting myself fall asleep just in time for the alarm to go off, since Son has a drill meet today.

And what does this have to do with planning anything? Well, I had planned to go out and do some clothes shopping for the kids, groceries, Goodwill™ run, and of course, shopping for the Red Dress. For once my day was planned to the minute. Now I have to wait until the people around here stop their raindance so I can go out and manage to salvage the day. That is, if Hubby doesn’t Skype today. If he does, I will just put everything on hold until tomorrow. I do have my priorities straight.

Seems like a great time to make some brownies. Oh… I’m out of eggs.

Sigh….

Ladies in Red

Some of you out in the Blogosphere may know of The Bloggess, Jenny, and her Travelling Red Dress. It is a wonderful project done for the purpose of bringing a woman’s inner beauty into the open, celebrating one’s life, or a milestone, or just to give a woman the feel of magic. There is even a Facebook page to bring women with red dresses together with women who need them.

Yes, I admit I am a maudlin sap. I can’t help it. And most of you know me well enough to know that I don’t subscribe to feminism as defined by Gloria Steinem. My feminism was defined by June Cleaver. But the magic of the Travelling Red Dress is one that transcends all walks of life. It has a purpose, and there is never a downside to having a Red Dress moment, because as soon as you slip it on, you are filled with magic and love and hope, and guess what??

ALL THAT STAYS WITH YOU, FOREVER!!

And so, I am taking a step, and getting a Red Dress, and I will wear it, and believe in the magic, and then pass it on to another who needs the magic. And so on, and so forth, until it falls apart.

And then I’ll get a new one. And start the cycle all over again!!

PS: Yes, I will model it here. And if any of my readers are interested in having it, send me an email, or leave a comment on this post. All I ask is that you send it along to another gal who needs the magic, too 🙂

On Regretting

I must say, I have very few regrets. I am very lucky in that regard. All that said, I do have some, and sometimes they surface, making me ask the inevitable, What if…?

I remember in college my Anthropology professor offered me the chance to be her student assistant during her sabbatical to Mali. I was excited, because that position was usually reserved for graduate students, and I was only a junior in college. That position could mean a slot in the graduate program (which at the time was very difficult to get). But after enjoying the accolades from fellow students, I realized I could never go. My parents were paying for part of my schooling, and my sister’s as well. The money I was earning was barely able to pay for food and incidentals, so I couldn’t save up for the flight and the expenses, since the position was that of an unpaid intern. So, I turned it down, knowing that I was passing up a huge opportunity, but also knowing the timing was not good. Years later, talking with my dad about that, he looked at me as if I had grown another head, and asked me why in the world I didn’t ask. In retrospect, it was fear that kept me from asking. Fear of being told “No”. My dad being a very smart man, told me that not only should I never be afraid of the word “No”, I should also not be afraid of accepting it, or rejecting it.

I used to regret not having gone to Mali. But I am glad that I have learned to regret the things I’ve done, rather than the ones I didn’t get to do, like dyeing my hair a chocolate cherry color.

Now, there’s a regret about which I laugh!!