7 Quick Takes and a Fashion-ish Friday

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Why I'm doing 7 Quick Takes Today
I have a blog that I've been following pretty regularly called conversion diary. The blogger is named Jennifer Fulwiler, and she hosts a shared post every Friday titled "7 Quick Takes." This is my first attempt at linking to her blog (because I'm new). Jennifer just released a book called Something Other than God that I found hugely interesting. I want to write a full bourge take on it in the next few days - mainly because I want a bit of time to collect my thoughts on it. Come back in a few days if you'd like to hear more. #SOTG.

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Parenting is Mortifying
Yesterday, I had the SINGLE MOST MORTIFYING MOMENT of my parenting. And with three young boys at home and sailing through the world with me, that is saying something!
 Anyway, A little bit of background: my three boys are obsessed with asking philosophical questions on the way to school. They inevitably come up with some zingers. Thursday morning was all about eternal life. "Mom, why do people go to hell?" My basic answer to an 8, 5 and 3 year old? "Oh, honey, there are people who make bad choices and choose not to be with God where there is no love and no hope." That seemed to be enough for them and the day continued on.

Later, H-P (3), Coo (5) and I had to run into Starbucks to pick up a few travelers (containers holding a lot of coffee) for an end-of-the-year party at school. The staffers had forgotten about my earlier call, so we had to wait while they brewed 2 giant pots of coffee (and I learned how to breathe out my anger). My boys began acting in their normally perfectly subdued way and this ended with H-P smacking Coo across the face in full view of the entire store.

Being an ideal parent, I bent down and whispered to my three year old, "You made a really bad choice, honey. You don't get a cake pop." To which, my son begins screaming, "I don't want to go to hell!" Computers snapped shut, baristas gaped and other mothers turned away. I had instantly become the Fundamentalist Mother from (the aforementioned) hell. Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. The entire place was convinced I had told my toddler he was destined for the underworld. I honestly just wished I had spanked him.

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Renovation Surreality
We're well into the demolition renovation of our house. Join in the odyssey here

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First, Second and Third Communions
At least there are only another 100 things going on for us these days to break up the monotony of completely changing our house with renovations. I am slowly learning to dread May with all there is to do. Thankfully, this May has been saved by the excitement of Buck's First Communion. We were so glad to have a number of new friends to share in the day with us…even as Buck and I mourned our far away family and friends. I love to create imaginary family parties in my mind with all of you who couldn't be here. Maybe after that renovation.

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I always promise Fashion-ish Fridays to my followers. This week, you get THREE amazing outfits!!
#1 What to Wear on Warm Spring Days

First, a "hot trend" this season (because I live the "hot trends") is SAFARI style. Funny, it looks a lot like the "camo" and "military" trends of the last few years. When I read that SAFARI style is basically anything camouflage, khaki, black or animal print, I found an old camo mini and threw it on. Hot renovating trendsetter - that's me! Not pictured: black flip-flops

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Fashion-ish part 2 - What to Wear on Cold Spring Days. 

This look is a bit fuzzy and hard to see, but it's proof that I showered twice this week, so I included it.  Spring is a crazy season in Colorado. It's HOT (85F/30C) one day and really cold (43F/6C) the next. So, one day, it's SAFARI and the next it's denim and black pants. I think I threw on a scarf with this after my 5 year old got the "perfect" shot. The forecast says 100% snow on Mother's Day, Sunday, so warmer clothes are in the future for us anyway.

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Fahion-ish 3 - What to Wear to a School Mother's Day tea

 I have an amazing group of paparazzi to immortalize my looks each day, they're just a little short. H-P took this shot this morning. Today is a Mother's Day tea at the pre-school, so I'm going with a boxy shirt and cigarette pants as the temperature drops for the upcoming weekend. I wear pointy black flats with nearly everything because they're comfy but more grown-up than my favorite black havaianas flip flops (which I wear most of the time anyway).

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Fashion-ish Friday: What to Wear to sign loan documents :)

Another "What to Wear" that's never covered - Moms going to meetings in actual businesses while still dealing with potty-training toddlers and sticky-fingered preschoolers (too long for the blog title). It's warmer here and I love dressing like spring is a real thing. We're sputtering into spring in Colorado (snow forecasted for Sunday or Monday), so I'm wearing all the open toed shoes I can get. 

I love long white jeans if I think I'll have help with the kids during the day (RKZ will be at the meeting). The pink tunic is Old Navy. That store is really upping it's game this year, I think.

The lovely background is our apartment in it's rough stages. We'll be hanging pictures any minute! OK, maybe in August.

What to wear to your child's classroom...

I've noticed when I google "What to wear" that this option never comes up. It sounds dumb, but I get a lot of anxiety over how I should dress (as a mom) to go to a casual kids' function or to volunteer. As a teacher, of course I'd dress professionally (…mostly) but now I think there is a fine line between being stylish and becoming the "mom who is trying too hard and/or wants to pick up your husband." So, today's fashion-ish day is what I wore to my oldest's second grade classroom for his "mini-society sale" This is where he sold his pet rocks I mentioned a few posts back. 

 I am constantly being "love-attacked" by little boys, so I always opt for jeans or leggings and flat shoes. It's a little chilly here today, so I figured a shlub sweater (not sure if that's a real word) from H&M and J skinny jeans would do the trick.

My shoes are from TJ Maxx - black patent leather pointy-toed flats (Ivanka Trump, I think). I definitely rock the name tag :)

But, regardless of what I wear, this is the reason I help or visit the school anyway. Buck was very proud of his rocks and made a lot of "school money" from his friends. 

Fashion-ish with a new camera

I got a new camera!!

I'm pathetically excited - it's a Sony RX100 II and I'm mostly excited because it has a "silent" setting so I feel like a spy taking flash-less, sound-less pictures. It's also the size of a big bar of soap but it works just like my SLR (big one with giant lens). I will now be able to take pictures in restaurants, parties, bathrooms (ha. ha.) and gymnastic classes: 

But my biggest excitement is saved for the fact that maybe my kids (and mom :) will be able to use it, so I won't have to take ridiculous selfies all the time. 

This one really brings out the asymmetry of my eyes! I am obviously not getting enough sleep. 

So, although I've worn some really great fashions this week, we spent most of the time trying to figure out how to use the camera (by "we" I mean myself and my 5 year old). 

There was a lot of denim this week. It's comfy, neutral and hides puke and poop! ;)

Friday Fashion-ish

Fashion-ish Friday report: My mom is here visiting, so I was able to shower.  Victory!
I had no idea what to put on at 6:30 this morning, so I turned to my old faithful, In Style magazine (December issue). I basically look through the "what to wear" section and try to use whatever I have to look remotely like the picture. Here's today's choice (it's snowing here):

My first thoughts? Uhh - I don't do polka dots and I have a muffin top, so I won't be using a belt to accentuate a waist I don't have. I would love a camel coat like this, but don't have one. Also, I had a meeting all afternoon, so a heavy scarf is out. I'm going to say that my outfit is about 10% similar to the picture, but it helped a brain-dead girl look ok. 

Pea Coat - CAbi, 7-for all Humanity Jeans, Old Navy sweater and Rebecca Minkoff purse. Basement of my parish after an Altar Society meeting. That blur is an umbrella. I don't look too much like the picture, but I have jeans and a jacket on!! 

Happy Friday! 

Stitch Fix - 1

I have a shopping problem. Or, maybe I have a fashion problem. I think it stems from the fact that I had literally no fashion sense as a child. Blame it on Catholic School Uniforms, the fact that I only had brothers or the fact that I had 4 of those brothers (and not an excess of family income to shop) but I just had no sense of what to wear or what looked remotely good on me.

Case in point:

Family photo circa 1986

I mean, seriously awesome lavender sateen shirt and skirt. Also love the permed hair. 

This is a great shot of our family, though (and Gma J, God rest her soul). 

Almost in reaction to the YEARS I spent with abysmal style (no laughing, old friends) throughout High School and University, the minute I made some money - very little teacher money - I spent it on another collection of the worst overly "in style" clothes ever. 

Ok, I don't think this outfit is very "in style" but I was very fond of that red and white striped skirt. I just like this picture because it's nearly the same people about 10 or so years later (maybe 15 - again with the math!).  But even as a "working woman" I had very little idea of what fit me and my shape and my goals (such a 90's and 2000's thing to say). 

I had a bit of a fashion epiphany around 30. I loved 30. I think I finally gave myself permission to have the body of a woman and I started researching which designers and trends fit me instead of the other way around. I also stopped obsessing with Sports Illustrated swim suit models and decided that who I am and what I am worth is so much more than boobs and butts and hair extensions. I wanted to dress beautifully because I like beautiful clothes and because I want to show the world that my appearance means a lot to me. I like dressing up to show other people that being in relationship with them means a lot to me. I like to "dress up" for life. I think living is a pretty big deal and sometimes I like to put on outfits that reflect that. 

Sometimes, I wear yoga pants and don't shower. I'm an enigma. And I still don't have a lot of time to follow new trends. 

Five months ago, I found a great site. Stitch Fix is a web site where you fill out a "fashion profile" and stylist puts together a box of about 5 goodies. They send a new box every month (you can set a preference of how often/little you receive a box). You also get to set price points and preferences, so it's not like a limitless supply of things no one can afford. You choose what you want from the box and send back what you don't. 

 I wanted to blog about this because I love getting a box of trendy (or semi-trendy) clothes based on my preferences. The first box was a "french toast" moment where some of the things didn't fit or were strange but you also rate and explain what you like and don't so successive fixes become increasingly better. 

Here is this month's fix: 

First, the box arrives via USPS

There is a little personalized note from the stylist (I've had 3 different stylists) 

There are "style idea" cards for each piece they send. 

I love this shirt. It's a cap sleeved blouse in actual silk. Awesome for the summer. 

My mom (current photographer) shot this picture of me in another of the shirts they sent. I've requested no pants for a few months because I have more than enough jeans and yoga pants :) This is one of the sweat shirts they sent in stripes and the color of the season - mint green/light teal

My son is wearing a t-shirt and hurley shorts ;) 

I'm still not the world's most fashionable woman, but it's fun to have someone choosing some cute trendy things for me lately. 

FYI, I sent back one of the shirts because its just didn't work for me. There is a pre-paid USPS envelope and I was able to buy everything else on-line. 

I'm back to novels and movies in the next few posts. Can't wait to see Twelve Years A Slave. 

Bourgeois Friday Fashions

One of the things about blogs that makes me laugh is the crazy amount of beautiful young (or older) people with fabulous lives who look fabulous all the time. I semi-regularly follow 2 blogs of women in their late 20's or early 30's and every other post is them looking SUPER stylish as they jaunt around New York (Kat) and/or London (The Londoner). Obviously, I am drawn to these blogs because they have NO resemblance to my own life. Also, their pictures help me craft similar-ish outfits out of my Target and Old Navy filled closet. Please notice that each of these blogs have little pictures at the bottom of the posts where the reader might "click and shop." My single constant question is "how do these girls afford all of this stuff?" Prada bags? TopShop staples? New items every week? 

So, I have decided to make Fridays into "Bourgeois Friday Fashions" with Bridgette. I will post whatever I wear (and whether or not I showered) and you can feel free to run down to Target or the Gap and buy whatever I'm wearing :) 

This first post is a bit of a cheat because I actually wore it last Friday but my photographers (kids) couldn't figure out my camera to take a picture of today's style statement. 

Last Friday, I did shower. My ensemble is a Gap cable knit sweater over a stitch fix skirt. I will have to discuss stitch fix next week. In these amazing photos, I am barefoot, but I wore the cow-boy inspired booties with this stunner. 

This is a real woman in her 40's at the end of a long day…Some of us are really too old for selfies