Dressing for Girls

It is so hard to dress my "tween" daughter. She is almost 10 and very tall and athletic. She wears a size 14 and a size 7.5 woman's shoe. She's also a total tomboy and wants to wear shorts and tee shirts everyday. She plays lacrosse, soccer and tennis as well as horseback riding. When I ask people where they buy clothes for their daughter I hear "Justice" alot so we poped by and all I can say is "NOT"! She's still a child, not a teenager, and in mind mind, alot of that stuff won't be appropriate when she is. I always end up at Lands End. She likes the comfortable nature of the clothes and I like that they cover her fanny and her tummy, not to mention lasting a whole summer and beyond. How about you?  Where do you shop for your daughter?

Relaxed and Refined

Another focus for me on my road forward is an attempt to refine my personal style. I've always been a preppy person. Catholic school uniforms started my long relationship with plaid skirts and cardigans. Critter prints, madras, gingham, seersucker are all my friends. My motto is "relaxed and refined". I'm 42 now and some how certain things just don't seem like they work anymore. For example, no matter how good my legs are, and they are pretty good, the 3 inch printed shorts are likely a thing of the past. Same thing with mini's and short dresses. I do work for a bank but I don't see clients. My daily office wardrobe is good dress pants, a nice blouse or sweater top and a blazer. I rarely wear a full suit. I do sometimes wear dresses or skirts as well. More and more, my favorite pieces are coming from Banana Republic. I love the look above. It've just what I think about when I think about me. Do you have a style motto?

Workout Ways

One of the important changes I am trying to make to bring myself back together is a new focus on daily exercise. I used to be a runner but have developed arthritis issues in my knee and ankle as a result of a childhood riding accident. When I was trying to lose the weight after I had my twins I discovered Bar Method classes and just loved them. However, they are pricy (over $25 per class) and once I went back to work I had a hard time getting to them. I found this DVD on amazon and just love it. Its as close to an actual class as I can get and it's right in my living room! Have you ever tried Bar Method? Or do you have another favorite I should know about?

Starting Fresh

As much as I sometimes dislike Monday's I feel pretty good today. Like it is the start of something good. It's been a while since I felt that way on a Monday. The kids had a busy weekend at the ball park and lacrosse field and the weather was really nice. It finally feels like spring is here which may have something to do with the way I feel. There is something about spring that I really like. It feels hopeful and bright after a cold winter. I love fall too but there is something about spring this year. I'm hosting our family's Easter brunch and already planning the egg hunt. Even the 12 year old gets into that. I ususally have 2 "special" eggs that have a treasure of the green folding kind inside. Do you have any special Easter traditions? Happy Monday everyone!

Goals, life and so on.....

Sorry I've been MIA recently but I've just been in a funk. I feel overwhellmed and generally unhappy with pretty much everything and trying to focus on why I feel that way and how to fix it. On the outside, everything looks pretty good so why do I feel so crummy inside? That's the question I am trying to answer. Partly, I'm over committed. I work full time (I'm a lawyer), I have 3 kids (6th grade, 4th grade and 3rd grade), I'm the little league president, the incoming PTA president for next school year, the auction chair for my son's tournament team, AYSO soccer ref,  and the coach certification coordinator for my daughter lacrosse team. If I dig down to why I do all that the fundamental answer is that I am insecure. I don't think people will like me unless I am super involved. I need to be needed. In the nearly 5 years since I went back to work I have gained close to 15 pounds and hate that, yet I struggle with emotional eating and as you can imagine, I have a hard time fitting in exercise, yet how I look is important to me and so another source of frustration. I'm also 42 and trying to refine my style to reflect who I am now, but I'm not always certain who that is. But then I happened  upon Lara Casey's blog and shop and I think I may have turned the corner. Or at least found a path to start towards the corner.  I ordered her Making Things Happen Power Sheets and am eager to sit down and work on them. I do plan to keep blogging and hope you might keep reading. Does this sort of funck happen to you? Id welcome other tips and ideas! Thanks for reading!

Play Ball

 

 

Many of you know I am the president of the local little league.  This is my second year and my last as AGB is 12 which is the top end for little league. I've been missing in action th epast week or so as we were preparing for opening day. It's always so great to see the kids run out on the field and the park looking perfet. So now it's time to play ball!

 

 

 I love this shot. The local fire department brings their big ladder truck and swings the Flag out over the field for the National Anthem and Salute.

 The our league photographer climbs up the ladder where the flag is suspended and takes this picture!

AGB was the catcher on his team (The Indians) selected to take the first pitch! He's the tall good looking kid on the far left!