Nordstroms?

Hi there, actually blogging from home today as there is a sick child on my sofa. He's been having asthma trouble the last couple of days. When it gets hot here in the Bay Area and there is no wind like we normally have the air quality gets awful. Anyway, as we were getting out the car at school it dawned on that this was not a well child. Teary eyes, dark circles, flushed cheeks. In good conscience I couldn't leave him at school. I was also certain that if I did, they would call me just as I arrived at my office and say he had thrown up in class and come get him. Anyway, I brought him home with me. That's what sick days are for right?

But I digress, I really wanted to talk about shopping at Nordstroms. Do any of you do that? I got a cataloge with the above picure in it and I am just digging the outfit. It's totally how I hav been dressing these days. Ever since I had to swear off my high heels and live in flats or very low heels, this look just works better for me. Plus in financial services, it buys you a little more crediblity when everyone else around you is an older white man. I went to their website and it is the Halogen brand which I have never heard of. The items had good reviews on the Nordies web site and I ordered all 3 for $156 and free shipping. Seemes like a pretty good deal. Some of the other outfits looked interesting. Has anyone had experience with this brand or Nordstroms?

The Great Deodorant Conversation

My oldest son is in 4th grade. There are 22 boys and 6 girls in his class. We are starting fall with a heat wave here in the Bay Area. Yesterday a note came home in from our teacher requesting that folks either start wearing deodorant or showering in the morning before coming to school. I've heard from others as well as my sister how is a teacher that 4th grade is often the begining of body odor so I wasn't to surprised. I had actually already had this discussion with my son and started him using deodorant as well as washing his face every morning when school started. It goes without saying that showers are non-negotiable. Proud parenting moment for me.

What surprised me this morning at drop off this morning was how many people were borderline offended. Sort of like, how dare you suggest my child should use deodorant. I pointed out that it was not aimed at anyone person but there are 30 kids in the class, it is 100 degrees outside and they go outside and play soccer or baseball or just go to PE, there is no air conditioning in the classroom. I don't blame the teacher. I have totally noticed in driving carloads of my son's friends around to varrious practices, there comes a time when they stop smelling like wet puppies and frankly start to smell, well let's just say less than fresh. More like gym lockers.

What do you all think? Would you have been offended?

Look What I found in my mailbox!

Oh my god! What did I find in my mailbox waiting for me today? A Red Card, from J Crew! I almost passed out! I don't think I've ever received any of the little gifts they send out. I was so excited. I'm going to go by the mall on my way home from work tomorrow. I need a new pair of black minnies and I have been eyeing the merino sweatshirt. Hooray!

In acceptance there is peace - I am not Emma Pillsbury

OK, that's a lame title for the post but it will make sense if you keep reading. I have been doing alot of thinking about happiness lately. I am reading the book The Happiness Project, which I love so much I bought a copy for my sisters birthday next week. For me, how I look has always been somewhat tied in to how I feel. Yes, I am that shallow. I was never the kind of person who could run around with no makeup and sweats. Anyway, I finally accept the kind of style I have that makes me feel good, look good and fits my life. I am a 40 year old working mom of 3 kids. In my work life I am counsel in a large bank. I have painful foot issues inlcuding bunions and serrious arthritis in my ankles. I look best in tailored styles. As much as I love the look of all the ruffled neck J Crew silk camis, when I look in the mirror I hear the song "send in the clowns" Hence I finally stoped buying them. Today I have no black wool slacks, my watercolor leopard evie cami, a grey jackie cardigan and silver ballet flats. The look I aspire to is more closely linked to the look Keri Russell is rocking below. Black, grey, taupe. Clean and tailored. Pants or jeans.


Note to self, I am NOT Emma Pillsbury. I would love to be. I love the great pencil skirts, the bow blouses, the high heeled Jcrew shoes. Especially the gold ones and the penelope mary janes. I am filled with longing when I watch the show. But those shoes make my feet hurt. The pencil skirts make me look silly. Now that doesn't mean I don't have a few and love them but they are by and large the solid perfect pencil ones. Trust me, a flowered pencil skirt with a bright cardigan and bow blouse makes you look ridiculous in a meeting with senior directors of brokerage. Especially if they are all men 20 to 30 years older than you. Nor does the look really work for my life. I have to referee two different under 8 soccer games on Saturdays. No pencil skirt looks good with a stop watch and whistle, not to mention the black AYSO tee shirt they insist we wear. I am not a 20 to 30 something teacher, no disrespect if you are. My son's 4th grade teacher dresses like this. I love the look and wish I could rock it. I have tried hard. I keep buying the skirts, when they come out or on ebay. Turkish Delight, Impressioninst, Sunshine Peony, Pastiche, Ink Blot, Fleurette. You name it, I've tried it. They are not me. There I said it out loud.

As I said, in acceptance, there is peace. Step one to being happy is to be who you are. I am not Emma Pillsbury. I am me.

What Makes You Happy?

I've been thinking about happiness alot. What is it? Am I happy? If I'm not happy, what would make me happy? The book The Happiness Project was recomended by a friend and I will be picking it up, hopefully today. Let me explain why sometimes I wonder if I really am happy.

The past, well 7 years, have been very stressful. My husband started his own company after being laid off when the dot com bubble burst here in Silicon Valley. He was laid off almost 18 months before he started his company. This in and of itself is usually stressful. We already had one child but then we had twins, one of whom is autistic. My oldest son was discovered to be dyslexia and dysgraphic. Due to the poor economy, I went from being a stay at home mom (which I loved) to having to go back to work full time to a job I don't like. I turned 40.

Ok, wow that sounds bad. It is the dwelling on these things that make me feel sad. Let me see if I can turn it around. My husbands company is still in business, despite the horrid economic climate. It's even started to make some money. My son who is autistic is extremely high functioning. He is in a mainstream first grade class and doing well. His challenges exist but they are not glaringly difficult in comparrison to many. My older son works hard and is not frustrated by his learning issues. He is extremely sweet and tries so hard. While I don't love my job, I do it very well and it pays me extremely well. I feel fortunate to have it, it saved my family. I may have turned 40 but my husband and I have been married 15 years and are very close.

Ok, that sounds better. I am trying to concentrate on turning those negative thoughts around. Remember how people used to say "Turn that frown upside down"? When I start to dwell on the dark side I try and turn it around. Exercise helps as does just sitting down with a cup of tea and thinking about how blessed I really am. Thanks for letting me vent! The picture is on of my lovely family taken last Christmas. It's to remind me what is important in life!

Now that's what I am talking about!

This is an image from the new Talbots look book. Yes, that's Talbots. OK, totally love! I want to buy everything she has on from the great green coat to the totally awesome red shoes. Love the jeans too! This is exactly how I used to feel about J Crew. I wanted to buy the whole look so I could be as fabulous as the model. This particular gal is gorgeous and happy looking. No washed out, frayed, tattered, borrowed from the boys obsessesion here. Sorry J Crew, I might be moving on!