Hi-Lo Country

Don't worry.  I'm not going to post pictures of myself every day.  My previous post was just a little on the HEAVY side, so I thought I'd end the week on a lighter note.  And it was pure torture having my picture taken, just so you know.  I hate it SO much.  I could never do this on a daily basis, and I have real admiration for you fashion bloggers out there.

I bought this skirt back in the spring, at a little boutique in San Antonio, but I could never figure out how to wear it, so it just hung in my closet for months.  Then, I was inspired by this post, and this one, and this one, too, so I thought I'd give it a try for Rhys' party.  The skirt has the potential to be almost sticky sweet, and as I'm getting older (I'll be 34 later this month!), I feel the need to mix things up a bit.  So I paired it with a black tee, red espadrilles, and a funky (for me) charm necklace.  When I got dressed, I also put on a vintage black slip that once belonged to my grandmother, and it gave the skirt a nice edge, but it was too hot for the Texas heat.  Maybe I'll try it in the fall.  This was my only attempt at the hi-lo trend, and I'm happy with the result.  I also love how the wind caught the hem as I posed for this picture.

And here's a charming picture of my handsome guys to end the week.  They are much better models, in my opinion.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Firecrackers: Fourth of July Fiction

This was my first experience using Polyvore, the amazing fashion and design collage site, and while it is lots of fun, there's also a definite learning curve.  When I started using it recently, I linked my blog to my account there, so when I published this set on Polyvore, it also published it here.  Live.  It took me only a few minutes to realize my mistake, but because of that, it might look a bit familiar to some of you.  I'm so sorry about that, and I appreciate your patience as I'm learning and trying new things.  

Nell was my beloved grandmother's name, and Kay was her best friend.  I loosely based these characters on them (and my own summers growing up in San Antonio), and I'm considering making this a regular feature, perhaps for holidays and specific seasons.  Also, I used clothing from Ruche because I love their vintage style and affordability.  (Nell and Kay are working-class girls.)  Please feel free to share your opinions and let me know what you think.  And you can also follow me on Polyvore.  Have a wonderful Fourth of July and enjoy the Firecrackers!


Summer, 1943

Nell and Kay had been friends since childhood, and the girls were inseparable as young adults.  This year for the Fourth of July, they planned to attend the celebration at the army post near their homes, and maybe dance with a soldier or two before the start of the fireworks display.  The war was far from over and everyone's thoughts were with their loved ones at the front, but today was a day to take a break and celebrate, if only for a few hours.

Nell, a refined brunette with a penchant for having fun, decided to try a bright polka-dot patterned dress, which she paired with bright blue sandals, a white floral necklace, and a sparkly clutch.  Working all week at the Five & Dime downtown, she was hoping to let loose a bit, eat too much ice cream, and thoroughly enjoy herself on her day off.  Her gaggle of brothers and sisters kept her busy all week, and today was a welcome respite from the responsibilities of everyday life.

Kay, the blonde of the pair, already had a boyfriend away at basic training in Mississippi.  She wasn't sure what their future would hold, and today she just wanted to escape her worries to spend some time with her best girlfriend.  Kay wore her trusty navy dress with the crisp white bow, but decided to have some fun with a red bangle bracelet and her new strawberry-colored espadrilles, shoes that she finally bought last week after saving her waitress tips for months.  She added her usual taupe clutch, but felt it grounded her outfit with a nice touch of neutral color.

Together, the girls walked arm in arm toward the main gates of the post, with the festival in full swing.  Who knew what could happen on a hot summer night, with the smell of popcorn floating in the wind and fireworks exploding across the blue Texas sky. 

All items available at Ruche:

Dot dress
$45 - shopruche.com

Vintage dress
$45 - shopruche.com

Navy sandals
$29 - shopruche.com

High heels
$85 - shopruche.com

Clutch handbag
$37 - shopruche.com

Rhinestone clutch
$50 - shopruche.com

Bracelet
$13 - shopruche.com

Long necklace
$23 - shopruche.com

Little Things

This is the view from my backyard today.  Even in the pouring rain, the Rose of Sharon is so lovely and vibrant.  The blooms don't last long, so we enjoy them while they are here.

This arrived in the mail today, and the packaging is so lovely that I had to save it.  The rouge reminds me of the kind my grandmother used to wear, and a dab to the cheeks and lips is enough to make you blush all day long.  The line is created by a cosmetics historian who loves the elegance of bygone eras, so I had to try it.

* * *

After school, James was watching PBS' "Martha Speaks," about a dog who ate alphabet soup, which traveled to her brain, enabling her to talk.  I thought I recognized the voice of Jennifer Westfeldt, who is the real-life partner of Jon Hamm.  A few minutes later, a character named "Ham" appeared, and sure enough, both Westfeldt and Hamm were making a guest appearance on the show, along with their real-life dog, Cora.  Though I recognized Westfeldt's voice and animated character right away, John Hamm threw me a bit.  He didn't sound like Don Draper at all (too bad!), and I think the animators drew him more like a young Kyle MacLachlan.  See for yourself here, though we saw a re-run, so I don't know if the second episode will air again tomorrow.

Curly Girl Tip

I embraced my curly hair a long time ago, mostly because I'm lazy and refuse to blow-dry or straighten it, especially in the heat of the Texas summer.  Whenever my stylist gives me straight hair, everyone oohs and ahhs, but it just doesn't feel like me.  Currently, I'm trying to grow out the bob I've had for several years in favor of just a tiny bit more length.  Since I started highlighting my hair last year in another attempt to hide my grays, I've noticed that my hair seems dryer and frizzier, too.

So, searching for a way to fix this problem, I ran across this article and decided to give it a try.  I always wrap my hair up while I get dressed in the morning, so how hard would it be to try a t-shirt instead of a towel?

Well, I'm pleased to report that it worked and I'm enjoying the results so far.  My hair is much curlier, less frizzy, and holds product well.  I'd post a photo, but I hate having my picture taken.  Maybe I'll work up the nerve later this week.  In the meantime, here's hoping this new trick helps my hair hold moisture during the hottest days of summer.

Fun While It Lasted

We are not iPhone people.  This is what my husband reminds me every time I express an ounce of jealousy over something available to iPhone users, but not owners of Android phones, which describes us.  Ryan would quite literally give his life for the sake of open-source software, and I respect this belief and do my best to live with it.  Just imagine writing a master's thesis in Open Office, saving it, converting it to Word, saving it, and emailing it to ancient professors in another city, week after week, for months.

To be perfectly honest, my iPhone jealousy has very little to do with technology and a lot to do with fashion.  I really just want one of these or these, and all that's available for my phone is this.  So gross.  Don't designers realize that people with Android phones also have taste?

But last week, Instagram, the fun, instant photo editing app was made available to the Android market, and I jumped at the chance to try taking pictures and making them look cool, like I see on other blogs all the time.  I was a bit disappointed to realize that I can't post to Blogger or email my pics, once they've been made cool and 70s-looking, since you can only share via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Foursquare (what the heck is that?).  But it was still fun snapping random shots and instantly transforming them.  I felt a bit like a photographer, despite just using my Android phone in its wanna-be-cute plastic case.

Then, today, I read that Facebook is purchasing Instagram for a mere one billion dollars, so, in good conscience, I had to delete my pictures and my account.  There's no way I'm letting that squirrelly, little curly-haired guy near pictures of my boys.

You know I'm a privacy hound.  Plus, I'm pretty sure he's an iPhone user.

"Mad Men" Madness

Ryan and I gave "Mad Men" a try a few years ago right after finishing the entire series, "The Wire."  Maybe it was the subtle plot line or the obvious sexism, but after two episodes, we kind of gave up.  We don't have cable and mostly watch shows via Netflix, but even still, it was impossible not to hear the hype from mainstream media about the show's popularity and influence.  And, as I searched for inspiration for our recent home renovation, I ran across post after post referencing the revival of mid-century modern (MCM) decor, thanks largely in part to "Mad Men."

I'm not in the habit of jumping on bandwagons, but after exhausting the limits of reality shows currently available on Netflix, I decided to give Don Draper and his crew another chance.  And this time, I was hooked.

Right now, I'm in the middle of season three, as Don courts the eccentric Conrad Hilton and Betty takes a sudden interest in, um, local politics.  (Interesting sidebar:  Chelcie Ross, who portrays Hilton, is an old college chum of my dad's; they were in ROTC at then-Southwest Texas State together, and both went on to serve in Vietnam as Air Force officers.  My dad looks a lot younger than Ross does, though.)

As much as I like the show, I have to limit my viewing, because it's easy to get sucked into the sadness, especially right before bed.  Such beautiful people leading such vapid lives leave little to look forward to, and yet we all come back night after night.  I know I do.

Tonight is the premiere of the show's fifth season, and I can't watch for the reasons I mentioned above.  I feel a bit left out and a little panicky, because I know I will probably finish season three this week, and that leaves only the 4th season to watch on Netflix.  So what's a girl to do then?  I have read that some die-hard fans refuse to watch the show until they can see the entire season all at once, so I guess I'll be in good company.

And recently, I ran out of my favorite pressed powder, which is amazing, but on the expensive side and only lasts about two months.  To get more bang for my buck, I hunted down Coty's Airspun Face Powder, after seeing it in a scene from "Mad Men."  My grandmother always kept a container in her bathroom and I used it as a teenager and liked it, but now it's not sold in many stores (I know, because I called around), though I did find it online.  And, on a whim, I decided to order some red lipstick, just for the heck of it.   And, yes, I do understand how product placement works, though I'm pretty sure Coty's presence in the scene was just an accurate detail.

Estee Lauder also launched a "Mad Men" line recently, which consists of a red lipstick and a cream blush.  So, even if you can't watch Betty Draper on television, you can still look like her, ice-princess that she is.

It really is a mad, mad, mad, mad world, but it's a lot of fun, too.

A Huge Weight Off My Shoulders

Last summer, I received a letter in the mail notifying me that I was being considered for jury duty in Federal Court.  This is different from being called to Municipal Court, in that Federal Court jury duty lasts for a period of two months.  Yes, you heard that right.  At the time, I completed my questionnaire and was sure to describe my occupation as a "nursing, stay-at-home mother," since there was no way to request an exemption.  I returned the form, heard nothing back, and forgot about the whole mess, thinking I was off the hook.

Boy was I wrong.

Saturday evening, as I was enjoying the last weekend of Spring Break, Ryan checked the mail and brought me another official letter.  This time, it was the real deal.  I was officially summoned to appear as a juror in District Court, beginning April 30th and ending July 6th.  On the Friday and Sunday before my first court appearance, I was instructed to call the hotline number to verify that my presence in court would indeed be needed the following Monday, and then I was to be on call each week, repeating the instructions each weekend, since juries are selected on Monday mornings.  At 7:45 am.  In downtown Austin.  I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

This time, there was an excuse form included, so I politely explained my current situation as the mother and primary caregiver to two young children, with a husband who works long hours and is preparing for a trip to China later this year.  I mentioned that I do sometimes use a sitter, though she is a college student and only available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings until 1 pm.  All completely true statements.

I didn't hold much hope in being excused though, because I've heard horror stories of judges throwing airline tickets for previously booked trips in the faces of potential jurors, and even of a mother held in contempt of court for bringing her children to jury duty when a sitter could not be found.  When I was in college, my Linguistics professor was assigned to a Federal grand jury, and missed part of an entire semester while her husband, also a Linguistics professor, filled in for her.  Things did not bode well for me and I've spent the past week planning acceptable outfits, researching bus routes, and recruiting possible caretakers for the boys.  Not to mention losing sleep over the prospect of taking on what amounts to a part-time job paying five dollars an hour on top of my full-time job as a mother to James and Rhys.

But things changed today, when I received a recorded message notifying me that my excuse has been granted, and I am off the hook.  For real this time. As my father-in-law says, "Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Amen!"

I'm a responsible member of society, respect the legal system, and understand the need to fulfill my civic duties, but I'm also responsible for the lives of two little boys on a daily basis, and I have to put them first.  Thankfully, the clerk understood this from the beginning and granted my excuse request. 

And to tie this all together, when I received the phone call, I didn't answer because I was busy getting fitted for new bras at Petticoat Fair, an amazing local bra boutique.  I haven't been properly fitted since I was pregnant with James, and I've literally lived in nursing bras since December of 2008, so I was well overdue for a proper fitting and some gorgeous new bras.

And before you ask, yes, I'm still breastfeeding, though Rhys usually nurses in the morning, before nap, and before bed, which are all times when we're at home.  I don't need a nursing bra to make it through the day now, and I treated myself to some pretty pieces that make me feel like a new woman.  In fact, when I got ready to leave, I realized that I just could not put my nursing bra back on after feeling a properly-fitted bra, so I wore a new one home.  I'm pretty sure I walked out of there feeling taller and lighter than I have in a long time.  It truly is amazing how a good bra can make such a difference in the way you feel.

A couple of hours later, when I went to get James from school, a friend saw me and said, "You look like you are getting smaller."  I just laughed and told her about my day.

Dare I Say It?

I'm the oldest of three sisters and a self-professed nerd, so I'm used to my know-it-all reputation.  Remember this?  Well, I just have to add...

I told you so.

Slipping Up

I'm on a mission to redecorate our house, slowly but surely.  Our plan is to install new flooring and redo our kitchen in the next year or so, and I've been working to update the other rooms a little each month, too.

When we bought our house six years ago, it was decorated for the ease and convenience of two childless, working people.  Now that I'm a full-time, stay-at-home mom to two active little boys and Ryan works from home most of the time, we're getting bored with the way things look and are ready to change it up a bit, or a lot, to be honest.

As an educator by nature and training, it's my habit to become an expert on something as I learn about it.  Remember my quest for a VBAC?  Well, now that my baby bearing days are behind me, I'm having a blast soaking up as much information as I can about decorating, home design, and do-it-yourself techniques.

I really love the French country influence that is so popular now and I'd like to incorporate it into my home, just not on as grand a scale as places like Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware advertise.  In an effort to do this, I set about finding ways to creatively and inexpensively change the decor in my living room, which has a lot of dark pieces in it.  I changed the curtains earlier this summer, which made a huge difference and let in a lot more light, something I crave in my home.

With two little boys, it doesn't make sense for us to purchase new furniture right now, and even though I dream of linen sofas with damask details and velvet pillows, that reality is a long way off.  So how, then, could I transform my dark living room into something lighter?

Enter the magic of slipcovers.  I spent months reading about and analyzing different brands, requesting swatch after swatch, ordering and returning several different covers, before finally settling on these by Sure Fit.  The look isn't exactly what I dream about, but it's most definitely a change for the better in my book, and I was inspired by the lovely designs of this talented Houston decorator.  If she can use a slipcover, I figure, then so can I. I actually spotted the cover on her couch and emailed her, and she was gracious enough to tell me that it was, indeed, the one I had planned to purchase.

When I originally started this hunt several months ago, my target price was $250, which seemed a reasonable amount to pay for the look of new furniture.  In the end, my efforts totaled about $300, because of the look and style that work best with our pieces, but it's all washable and will last for several years, until we are ready and able to purchase new furniture.

I wanted to share this idea because, in this economy, we're all trying to save as much as we can, and slipcovers can be a really affordable way to update perfectly good, if boring, furniture without spending a fortune.  Think of them as the gold spray paint of furniture.

Here are the Before and After shots of my living room, taken with my phone, since I am no photographer.

For my next project, I'm working on my formal living and dining room, which are filled with retro hand-me-down pieces.

True Colors

I received an email from Dermablend today, and it must be the coolest ad I've seen in a very long time.  Seriously, it gave me chills!  I once tried their products to camouflage the effects of scleroderma on my face, but I found the makeup too heavy for my taste.  It obviously works, though!

Happy Halloween!

The Icing

I love this dress.  Actually, I love the photograph of the girl wearing the dress.  I wish I had somewhere to wear it, not that it would fit me.  It also comes in cerulean.  So lovely!

Zombie Love

Tonight, I stumbled upon these awesome engagement photos by Amanda Rynda and was so impressed by her humor and creativity.  Eat your heart out! 

Cheap Thrills

When I was in college, my art history professor, who was not into fashion in any way, shape, or form, said she always bought the September issue of Vogue (you know, the really big, fat one with all the fall stuff), since it was a great way to get so much pop art and photography for just five dollars.  I totally agree, and I bought my copy today!  It will keep me busy for many days to come, since I can only sneak peeks at it when my little guys are busy playing or sleeping.

Poor Kate

There's an interesting article about Kate Middleton on ABC News' site today.  It seems she's taking a lot of heat for wearing the same pieces of clothing over and over again, and critics are also tired of her hair and eye makeup.

I've been beating the "no black eyeliner" drum for months, thank you very much, and I definitely agree that it makes her look hard.  She's a beautiful woman, but not many girls can rock the Cleopatra look.  Snooki can, because she has large eyes (and, well, she's Snooki), but Kate can't, and she needs to listen to those who only have her best interests at heart.  Interestingly, Kate's mother and sister also line their eyes entirely, so I see a family fashion intervention in the works. 

I do personally like that the Duchess recycles her outfits, because that's what real girls do, and she certainly seems like the genuine article.  Plus, she's on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List, and that's no small accomplishment.

And I seem to remember another famous Princess who had a hard time parting ways with her eyeliner, though, back then, it was blue, not black.

Let's give poor Kate time to learn the error of her ways as she adjusts to life as a member of the Royal family.  I, for one, wouldn't want to be in her shoes, even if they are really cute and affordable.

The Forsyte Saga

I recently watched PBS' version of The Forsyte Saga, and now I'm about a quarter deep into John Galsworthy's epic tale of a wealthy family in Victorian England.  The book itself totals nearly 900 pages and comprises three novels, two short stories (or interludes) between the main pieces, an extensive family tree, and explanatory notes.  It's not exactly light summer reading, but I'm thoroughly enjoying it and Galsworthy's writing is so much fun and timely.  Despite being written almost 100 years ago, the author's observations of privileged society are still incredibly applicable today. 

I also have to add that the book itself is incredibly beautiful.  I'm a book lover, so I know never to judge a book by its cover, but my copy, an Oxford World's Classic, has on its front a detail from Invitation to the Waltz by Francesco Miralles Galaup.  I find myself staring at the cover almost as much as between the pages, and the woman's dress, a lovely shade of pale pink, accented with a moon-shaped broach encrusted with jewels.  As she looks over her shoulder, a man standing behind her signs her dance card, and both subjects are completely absorbed in the task at hand.  It's easy to imagine these figures as the main characters in the novel, and it's such a stunning portrait for the cover of an equally stunning saga.

I also think the book looks lovely on my nightstand, which, if you're familiar with the Forsyte family, is both ironic and expected at the same time.

Worst Dressed List

It seems that Austin, our fair city, has found itself smack-dab in the middle of GQ Magazine's list of the 40 worst-dressed cities in America.  At number 18, we come in exactly one slot above the Jersey Shore, which isn't saying much at all.  Sorry, Snooki!

I grew up south of here in San Antonio, where making a trip to the grocery store requires full makeup and perfectly styled hair.  In fact, I used to wake up at 5 am each morning during high school, just so I had plenty of time to shower, scrunch my waist-length curly hair, do my makeup, and get dressed before the first bell at 7:08.

Back-to-school shopping involved a trip to the Clinique counter to stock up on makeup, as well as the purchase of several pairs of shoes to go with all of the new outfits we bought to start the year off right.

When I first moved to Austin and began teaching, I quickly realized that none of my fellow teachers wore pantyhose with their skirts and dresses.  That was beyond weird to me, because it seemed almost vulgar to let your bare legs show, plus how did they keep their panty lines from showing?  Where I'm from, it's not unusual for women to wear pantyhose with shorts.  It took me that entire year to get used to the idea of bare legs, but I finally started wearing open-toed shoes and sandals as summer rolled around.  The next year, I ditched the hose, and I have never looked back.

I also remember sitting in a teacher meeting and realizing that I had on more makeup than any other woman in the room, a fact that shocked me quite a bit.  That, I can't give up, and I still wear full makeup and fix my hair each morning, even if I have no plans to leave the house.

While my husband was on vacation from work recently, we made a day-trip to Boerne, a quaint little town just north of San Antonio, known for its historic district with antique shops and boutiques.  At the local Dairy Queen, the only restaurant my little guys can handle at the moment, I spied a middle-aged woman with the most beautiful long, blond hair.   It wasn't platinum-blond, in that past-my-prime-but-desperately-trying-to-fake-it way, but a natural blond that was perfectly styled to go with her perfectly applied makeup.

I remember thinking that I don't see many women her age who wear their hair that way, since it obviously requires a lot of time and attention, and then I realized that I was no longer in Austin.

Ta Da!

My living room is not the only place getting new curtains!

When my mom was visiting a couple of weeks ago, she talked me into wearing purple nail polish on my toes.  Even though I'm a cosmetics junkie, I'm pretty tame when it comes to color, and I never stray far from basic reds and pinks.  Purple is out there for me, but I tried it and it grew on me.

And guess what?  Now, my toes are blue!  Not bright blue, but a light, silvery color that actually looks nice with my skin tone.  So I figured it was time to update my blog again, too.

There's that whole movement now inspired by the Eleanor Roosevelt quote, "Do one thing everyday that scares you," and I think purple toenails have to count for something, at least in my case.

Too Private for Pinterest

So I've been reading and hearing a lot about Pinterest, the hot new site that lets you "catalog the things you love," according to its homepage.  In general, I like the concept of saving pictures and ideas for inspiration, and it's how I've been using the Bookmark function of my computer for years.

Now that my boys are a bit older and I'm not stuck up to my elbows in diapers and midnight feedings, I have a bit more time to explore things like decorating and, dare I say it, crafts.  So I've considered joining the site, which requires either an invite from a friend or adding your email to their waiting list.

Still, I'm the only person I know who isn't on Facebook and I'm nervous about this new site, too.  Even though I'm opinionated and not afraid to express my feelings on a public blog, for the amusement of my two or three readers, the fact is I'm extremely private in real life.

I destroyed my boys' blood samples, which you all know loud and clear; I close my blinds at dusk so the neighbors can't see into my house; and I still shut the door to the bathroom in front of my husband despite the fact that he has witnessed me give birth twice.  I have a problem sharing things with strangers, too, and I'm of the "Question Everything" mentality.

I'm not on Facebook because, honestly, the idea creeps me out and there are exactly two people from my high school with whom I wish to stay in contact.  One lives in New York City and we see each other once a year or so, and the other sleeps next to me at night.  The very thought of people from my past rising to the surface after years of anonymity literally gives me chills, and if I want to run into an old classmate I will just walk into the H-E-B near my parents' house and wait a minute.

I hate to sound crass, but we live in a true culture of sharing, the very idea that Pinterest seeks to promote, and every neighborhood in my town is bordered by Target, Ross Dress for Less, and Pier 1.  If you see something you like at a friend's house, you can stop on the way home and get one just like it.  But where's the fun in that?  What happened to being unique and finding your own style? 

I'm all for sharing creativity with the world, and I do believe art and literature are the great equalizers, but it often feels like nothing is sacred any longer and, even though I live in the suburbs with two children and a two-car garage, I'd like to keep some things private.  I'm probably over-analyzing this way too much, but that's just me.

I never went to any of my high school's football games, even though attendance was practically a graduation requirement; I almost lost a job because I refused to wear a college sports team's shirt during College Sports Week; and I was the only consultant in my unit, during my short stint as a Mary Kay saleslady, who never wore a suit.  I don't have a problem with authority, I swear, but I'm also not quick to follow trends. 

I think the idea behind Pinterest is really cool, and it will rid the world of piles and piles of pages ripped out from magazines.  I'm just not sure I'm ready to jump on the bandwagon yet.  Maybe if they allow private profiles, but probably not even then.

**Update:  So, I received my invitation to join Pinterest, and you must login through your Facebook or Twitter account, neither of which I have.  Problem solved, I guess.

The Duvet Cover: A Metaphor for Motherhood

I'm a work-with-what-you've-got kind of girl and don't have much time or money to redecorate right now, but, in a house full of boys, I am becoming increasingly aware of my desire to insert some feminine details amongst all the cars, trucks, and beer equipment taking over my living room and kitchen.

So, for Mother's Day, I decided to treat myself to a lovely, feminine duvet cover from a certain store that shall remain nameless, at least until you click on the link above. I was hoping to replace the light blue cover we've had since before James was born, the one that saw me through two pregnancies, morning sickness, baby spit-up, leaking breast milk, hormonal night sweats, and the occasional poopy diaper.

I'll admit to being enchanted with the price, but the soft floral pattern looked so lovely in the catalog and I thought it would go quite nicely in my light, quiet bedroom.  I had visions of relaxing in a room full of white, reading British novels in bed while my little boys sleep soundly on the other side of the house.  And yes, the pattern's name is also the same as mine, but that was merely a sweet coincidence.

Of course, the cover and shams are only available in the catalog and online, so one cannot view them in-store before purchasing.  Thus, I was completely unprepared when the cover that did arrive looked nothing like the one pictured.  Yes, it's the same pattern (I was sure to check), but the light background is actually quite yellow and the flowers are much, much darker.  In fact, the overall effect is much more tropical than I ever intended, sort of like the furniture from the set of The Golden Girls, which was set in Florida, after all. 

The only possible explanation I can find for this phenomenon is the strange fact that, when photographed, the duvet cover is exactly as pictured in the catalog.  I know, because I took a picture, and the results on my camera's screen look like the cover of my dreams.  It's just in real life that the fabric is different, which is frustrating and intriguing at the same time.  How can something so lovely and peaceful on paper and in my mind appear so different in real life?

And yet, isn't that the metaphor for real life?  Things aren't always as they seem, or as you imagine they'll be.  It doesn't mean that they aren't lovely or perfect in their own way, and you have to work with what you've got.  I'm pretty sure there's a lesson here, maybe in a sort of Forrest Gump kind of way, but that's how I feel about motherhood, too.

It's a daily attitude that you've got to maintain, especially if you want to keep your sanity at times; but overall, it's really wonderful and rewarding.  Who knew I'd be the mom to two precious little boys one day?  I certainly didn't.  And who knew I'd be transformed by my pregnancies and births?  Again, not me.

I didn't begin this post expecting to wax poetic about my adventures in motherhood a little over two years in, but that's where I find myself.  My visions of what motherhood entailed before I had children are so different than the reality of my life right now, kind of like that duvet cover on my bed.

The one pictured in the catalog only exists in my head, like the idea of the perfect mother I carried with me during my first pregnancy.  But the cover on my bed is just as lovely and functional, and it will keep me warm for many years to come.

Good Hair?

I just got an email from Ulta, advertising a $20 haircut and style.  As they describe it, that's a savings of "up to $35."  But before you run right out and take advantage of their sale, please be warned that you run the risk of looking like this poor girl.