Enough with the Serious!

The important issues: what do I really need to add to my clothing and shoe wardrobe for fall? The only purchases I've made thus far are cardis in navy and cream and a really long ameythst sweater tunic that is supposed to be a dress on a 20-something, but I plan to wear with a knee length black skirt and boots.

I'm thinking:

Boots--I have black, but I'm not wild about them. Brown is good, but not exactly sure how to wear them.

Heeled Mary Janes--should have gotten some last year, but I couldn't find any at a decent price. I need something closed-toe that is not too dressy.

Coat--I do not own a winter coat. I did snag a gorgeous black rain trench last May (it was in the lost and found at school and no one claimed it. London Fog, fully lined, classic shape w/ belt. LOVE!). I think I want a 'car coat', but no idea after that.

Black trousers--I only have a couple of pair right now. One is high-waisted/full leg that I adore, but may be a bit snug w/ a tucked in blouse right now (must.do.cardio.tomorrow!) and the other is just a regular ol' pair of black trousers in a lyrca/polyester/non-organic fabric. I love these because they are uber-forgiving and super comfy while not looking like I'm schlepping. Are there any 'must-have' styles this fall?

Trouser jeans--I finally found a pair at Sears of all places, but sadly, they are a wee bit snug. I do intend to be able to wear them by T-giving. I don't want to be a one-trick pony with them, though. Mine are a very dark blue--almost black in some light. Can I get away with a more denim shade?

Flowy blouses--I'm torn on these because I fear I look preggo. I wore a very sack-like dress to work last week--it's adorable: pucci-esque (only in the fact that it is multi-colored blocks not in the actual look of the print, but you get the idea) tunic that has no waist at all. It came with a tie belt, but the loops are low on my hips, so tying the belt made a very unfortunate silhouette. I think if I was about thirty pounds lighter I could wear the belt, but as for now--no belt I bought it at Primark in London on Oxford street--my mecca for cheap, trendy clothes. What the hell was I talking about? Oh yeah, blouses. The dress definitely pushed the maternity edge from some angles, so I'm not sure about the blouses. Is that a style one should avoid if not flat-chested? Or super size 4 thin?

Hats--I love hats. I have a hat haircut again. What style? I have a few newsboy style and a couple of what I can only classify as Fidel Castro style caps, but what else? Casual--not dressy. I don't dress up.

I'm off to haunt some blogs--I feel as if I've been away for a year. I have a lot of catching up to do!

Checking In

I've been less computer-oriented the past week or so than I have in years. My laptop had to be sent away because of a motherboard/wireless connection problem that HP's laptops developed. They extended the warranty to cover the problem, thank goodness, so all I had to do was send it in and they're replacing my motherboard. While it's been gone, I've been using the fabulous new Dell desktop that I bought for W. for his bday/Father's Day/you're in nursing school and you need a better computer. Between W. and the kids, there's not much free time online, lol. The nice part is that I've not really missed it, kwim? I run in and check in here and there for a second and then I get up and go do something else. I think that's what my poor manic brain needed.

I've read a LOT of books in the past month. I desperately need to update my Goodreads info. Goodwill had their monthly 50% off everything sale yesterday and I went into book-buying overdrive. I bought 74 books. About 15 or so are for my classroom, the kids or other teachers, but the rest of them? Novels. I had already read all the stuff I bought at McKay's last month, so I needed some more books to read on vacation next week. Once I started piling them in the cart, I couldn't stop. I found lots of good things--some book I'd been wanting to read such as Like Water for Chocolate, Atonement, Snow Falling on Cedars, some Maeve Binchy and Steve Matini titles and the like. I also bought several Patricia Cornwell and Mary Higgins Clark titles and a couple of Sue Grafton's alphabet series as well. I tried to get a good variety so that W. and SIL would have stuff to read, too. I read Atonement yesterday. I've been reading a book a day for the past couple of weeks. I am forcing myself to cut back this week in order to get housework and mommy stuff done. I have seven days next week with nothing to do but cook a few meals, supervise my ornery children and lie on the beach. Such a rough life I lead, lol.

We're going to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for a nice stay. SIL and MIL, Lynda (with a friend) and Jeffrey are going, too. The condo will be a bit full, but I think we're going to have fun. It will be a treat to have more adults around so that the kids have more options--I'm very much a lie on the beach and read/nap/people watch kind of chick. W. is all about fishing. The kids like to do both, plus swim in a pool. Usually since we only have one car there, it takes a bit of juggling to get everyone where they want to be, but this time will be a bit easier. Sometimes I take for granted how well-located Tennssee is. We're just a seven-hour or so drive from great beaches on the Gulf, three or four hours from Atlanta or Memphis, a long day's drive from DC, three hours from the Smokey Mountains, etc.

Five is on a mission trip to Kentucky this week. He'll be helping repair homes in a poverty-stricken area. Packing for a week for him was no fun. Just the sheer volume of t-shirts alone was daunting. I used my fabulous Delsey suitcase that my mom gave me for Christmas. When I had all of his stuff packed, I called him in so I could explain what I was sending and the first thing he said was, "Mom, I think the suitcase is a bit too big. I think I'm supposed to bring a small bag." Translated: He was embarrassed that the suitcase was so large. I had quite a time explaining to him that in order to take enough long pants and shorts, t-shirts for working and for hanging out, socks, boxers, towels, medicine, toothbrush and other personal stuff AND a tool belt, measuring tape, nail apron and hammer along with an extra pair of shoes, there really wasn't any way to take a small carry-on sized suitcase. He pondered this and then asked, "Well, can you try to put the sleeping bag in the suitcase?" Uh, no. An adult-sized sleeping bag will NOT fit into an already loaded suitcase. He resigned himself to looking like a tourist and moved on to more important topics--snacks for the trip.

Sam, Jay and I are home on our own this week. W. has to work everyday but Thursday, so the boys and I will be doing a great deal of pool time and maybe a trip or two to the park. They havie swim lessons every day, so that gives us a good reason to get up and get ready at a decent hour. Speaking of swim lessons, I guess I should go get stuff ready. A day at the pool requires much food and drink planning and I'm such a ditz I have to allow enough time to figure out what I've forgotten.

Hope everyone had a great 4th!!

Oh, last thing....my cousin's daughter has a fabulous new online biz--Good Fortune Soap. All her things are handmade with natural ingredients. She's going to be sending me some samples so I can farm them out to some of you. When they arrive, I'll post more info and tiny little presents will be shipped out to those who want some.

I cannot seem to get into a good workout routine. Either something comes up at the last minute or my neck hurts so much that I don't dare do anything strenuous.

You Know It's a Bad Day

I don't think I am overstating things one iota when I say that when an 8th-grade boy with some special ed tendancies comes up to you and says, "Hey, Mrs. W., how are you? Your hair looks really bad today. It's sort of sticking up all over the sides", that you are, in fact, having a really bad hair day.

Soon after, I called and made my hair appointment for Saturday.

Random Thoughts

Too scattered to post on one topic:

1. Britney--I'll be writing you another letter, but for now, child, please be safe and don't eat a handful of Xanax or Valium. I swear, I don't think I could mentally survive another AnnaNicolesque macabre post-mortem DAWing. Oh, and for the love of God and all that is holy, when you get out of rehabd, buy a fucking wig that doesn't look like something I could buy in the clearance bin at Dollar Mart with the lavender lipstick and the red plastic earrings. And lose the brolly. It's bad for the image.

2. Just because one attends water aerobics class that is popular with the senior set, one should not assume it will be an "easy" workout. Trust me and my calves.

3. IT IS SUPPOSED TO SNOW IN FEBRUARY, DAMMIT! WHERE IS MY SNOW?

4. If you have not had a Special K Protein Bar in chocolate peanut butter, then you have missed out on a 10g treat. Yum. Yum. If you are my husband, you have now tried them, so stay away from them.

5. If it was possible to live off said bars and popcorn, then I would be the single happiest person on Earth.

6. I've been messages by some freaks on Myspace. If you have a young daughter, please do not let her have an account.

7. It dawned on me that my oldest child will soon be 14. How is this possible? I am not old enough to have a child that is 14. That's not a little kid anymore. Ugh.

8. Why is it that I am the only chick in the United States that cannot pull off the straight hair look, no matter how hard I try? All I can think of is cheap wig every time I try it. I will say that even then, my hair is miles better than that polyester shit that Britney is sporting.

9. I do love me some Tarte Cheek Stain. That stuff rocks--even if it is stupid expensive for blush. Tipsy is my shade of late.

10. Tyra needs to step away from the hot rollers. Just step away, girlfriend.