Pretty Pretty Bang Bang

Making New Years resolutions has never been my thing, but I do like to think about the year ahead and make plans for improvement. I figure I’ll do my best and try not to beat myself up too badly should I falter, and I can guarantee I will.

My mom always told me that whatever I do on New Year’s day sets the tone for the year. While battling a cold isn’t what I hope to be doing for much longer, I will say the day was good. Steve was motivated to hit some sales and wanted to leave the house as soon as we’d finished our coffee. Now, you know I’m sick when I’m the one whining about shopping, but I wanted to spend the day with him so I agreed. We still had a couple of returns to make so we headed out to Barnes and Noble and the mall for some retail therapy. The first sign of a good year was returning a calendar Steve had bought me and getting three in return! I love waiting until the sales. Next up was the mall where Steve scored some bargain cords at Banana Republic and I determined there was nothing I wanted or needed. I did find some great Coach boots at Dillard’s that were on sale with an additional 50% off the price and, are you ready for this, I didn’t get them. Yep, I turned down a pair of shoes. Honestly, they were awesome but I have so many things on my wish list that I figured I’d hold out for something else. Plus, I’ll see if they’re still around at 75% off and then get them!

Steve was itching to cook and since we didn’t get together with Valerie and Kevin for NYE, we invited them over for dinner. Steve made an amazing beef stew from his new Joy of Cooking cookbook, and we had a hearty meal complete with Mississippi Mud Cake made by Valerie’s mom. We then retreated to the living room, where Steve had built a great fire, and watched Despicable Me. Cute, but those Pixar people can do cartoons much better.

The best part of the day was only waking up once during the night to have a coughing fit. That meant I actually got some decent sleep. I think I’m on the mend and getting well is about the best New Years resolution I can make. As for the other things I have planned for the year? Well, you’ll have to stay tuned to my blog to hear about them. Happy New Year, everyone!

I rarely get sick. Matter of fact, it’s been two years since I can remember being sick. But when I do get sick, it’s best to keep a distance because it’s not a pretty sight. You know how some people are deemed “angry drunks?” Well, I’m an “angry sick.”

It all started on Christmas Eve when we began our trip to Des Moines. I felt that familiar tickle in the back of my throat telling me that I was getting sick. I stocked up on my vitamins, guzzled water like I was in the desert and made sure I got plenty of sleep. I really didn’t feel bad, but I knew my body was starting a fight. Tuesday it hit like a blizzard: I was sick. And mad. I. Don’t. Get. Sick. I don’t. I take care of myself. I exercise regularly, eat right (most of the time), drink lots of water and take my vitamins. But someone and their nasty virus managed to break through my Fort Knox immune system. Naturally, I want to find that person and beat them up, but that’s just me being mad about being sick. I don’t think I’d actually do that.

The worst part (aside from the attitude I give the people around me)? The “help” everyone seems to offer. No, nothing good, except Suzanne’s lemon hint. No, I get “yeah, you’re in for a long haul.” Or, “I had that for three weeks. It’s going to get worse.” Thanks a lot.

And don’t baby me, for god’s sake. I don’t like it. I’m the strong one here and I don’t like not being in charge. Although, I did really appreciate Steve running to the store (twice) today for chicken soup ingredients and lemons. He even respected my wishes to do soup healthy and didn’t get me the canned variety. The guy needs a medal for dealing with me while I’m ill. And my printer, Danny Correll, took pity on me yesterday while I was in the shop and made me some hot tea for the road and gave me a Cepacol when I was losing my voice.

I’ll live, that much is for sure. I’ll get a lot of rest, try not to over-do it at the gym, drink lots of liquids and take my vitamins.And when I’m well, I’ll be a much happier person to be around. In the meantime, you’ve been warned.

Now that Christmas is over I’m ready for life to return to normal. It was a great weekend in Des Moines, but I’m craving my regular schedule, less eating and drinking, and cleaning up the holiday mess. Forget New Year’s Eve, I’m done celebrating for a while.

But Christmas in Des Moines is special, mainly due to two little girls who still believe in Santa Claus. Their enthusiasm and delight is contagious and it’s fun to watch them put out cookies for Santa and wait patiently at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning to see what’s under the tree. Steve and I arrived on Christmas Eve and were greeted with hugs and squeals of joy from Lydia and Julia. They were already excited because mom and Burl (Grammie and Papa Burl) had arrived the night before and were thrilled we’d come up again this year. The house was full, but never felt crowded. We had some time to relax before heading out to church. Des Moines had just enough snow to make it a white Christmas, but not so much that we couldn’t get around. The neighborhood around Ralph and Blair’s house had lined the sidewalks with white luminaries which glowed in the snow making the night seem magical. The girls were delighted to see that some of the white paper bags had caught fire and loved pointing out the small fires to all of us. With the snow around them they were contained so no damage was done.

After a lovely traditional church service, complete with a candlelight ceremony to Silent Night, we returned home and put the excited but very tired girls to bed. The grownups had a late dinner and took our wine downstairs so we could watch Elf and help Santa wrap gifts. Steve and I only lasted about an hour but everyone else stayed up and wrapped until 1 a.m. The next morning the girls waited at the top of the stairs until they were given the green light to come down and see what was under the tree. In their house, Santa wraps the gifts. In our house, the gifts were left under the tree unwrapped. Once Mary Kay and Everett (Blair’s parents) had arrived and the adults had some coffee, the girls were let loose to start unwrapping. The big gift of the year was a Wii. Naturally, they started begging immediately to play, but their mean parents made them wait until the afternoon. We took a break for breakfast and more coffee, then the girls played Santa for the adults and doled out gifts. They delighted in being able to help all of us unwrap our gifts.

The day continued with a delicious Christmas dinner of hamloaf, cheesy potatoes, steamed green beans and a great salad. After the girls went to bed, the adults did their stockings (a favorite tradition in our family), drank more wine and talked about what a great day we had. All in all, a lovely Christmas celebration with family.

The day after, mom and Burl left and Ralph and I hit the Banana Republic 50% off until noon sale. We managed to hit two BRs before noon and got lots of goodies. My best deal was a $15 coat ($45 on sale less $30 in BR rewards) and we got some great pieces for the guys too. Unbelievably, the stores weren’t packed and we scored two great parking spots. The guys met us at the mall with the girls and then they took off for some guy time while we went to see Tangled. Julia knew I was interested in seeing it so she became obsessed with the idea we’d all go. It was a cute movie, predictable, but Lydia declared parts of it, “a little scary.”

Yesterday Steve and I hit the road to home and arrived late afternoon to two very lonely cats. Today it’s back to normal as we both head to work. I’m grateful for the break, but always crave my normal schedule after a holiday whirlwind. I think plans for New Year’s Eve include doing very little and that’s just fine with me.

My sister is teaching my nieces, Julia and Lydia, the value of money. She gives them an allowance each week when they complete their chores. The girls have three piggy banks: one for saving, one for spending and one for giving. The idea is that they are supposed to divide their money and learn how to budget. The other day she asked the girls the bring her their banks to fill with their allowance and she noticed Lydia’s “spending” bank was unusually full. Suspecting she had been taking change out of the family change jar in the kitchen, Ralph began questioning her about the weight. Here’s how the conversation ensued:

Ralph: Lydia, your spending bank is really full. Where did you get all that money?

Lydia (4 1/2): I have my ways.

Ralph (trying desperately not to laugh): Did you get it from the change jar on the counter?

Lydia: Maybe

Ralph: Lydia, you know taking things that aren’t yours is stealing. That’s one of the Ten Commandments.

Lydia: Oh.

Lydia returned the money and we’re all still laughing about the incident. One thing is for sure, that kid is just a little too smart for her own good. I feel sorry for the kids in her class because I’m willing to bet Lydia will figure out who Santa Claus really is before they do. And then proceed to tell them all about it.

I’m still here, for those few people who actually read my blog. It’s not that I haven’t had anything to write about, it’s just that I needed a break. I was beginning to feel like I was over-sharing my life and I wanted to back off a bit. Plus, I’m in full Christmas mode which means I’ve had a show to do and special orders to create. Never fear, I’ll be back on track soon. In the meantime, Merry Christmas!

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we’re still eating leftovers. It was a great weekend full of excellent food, wonderful family and friends who are like family. This year, Steve and I had a rare treat: Ralph, Blair and the girls came to visit and stayed with us. Normally when they visit, they stay with my mom and Burl, and I understand. We always stayed with my Grammie and Keck when we visited, rather than with my aunt and uncle, but I always wanted them to stay here now that we have the room for everyone.

The girls shared a queen-sized inflatable bed in the office which was right next door to the guest room. They loved being able to look over the ledge into the dining room and spent a lot of time throwing stuffed animals over the ledge to the floor below. Luckily, being 4 and 7, they had the energy to race down the stairs to pick up their toys. Yes, they slept well. Being able to spend time with them meant I got to watch them play and hear the funny things they said. Unfortunately, I can’t remember all of them, but they are sharp, intelligent, imaginative little girls. It’s obvious their parents spend quality time with them and they don’t watch too much TV. My sister is a great mother which is no surprise considering all the time spent bossing me around when we were kids. I’m sure the girls listen to her more than I did.

Like almost everyone, I did reflect on my blessings at Thanksgiving, and gave thanks to my family, friends, great husband, blessed life, good health, etc. While it can all sound a bit cliche, I think it’s important to take time to be thankful for what I have rather than what I don’t. I looked around the dinner table on Thanksgiving day and felt very peaceful. Yes, I am truly blessed. I missed seeing my mom, dad and their spouses, but was happy I got to talk to them and they were spending time with family too.

Tomorrow it’s back to reality as Steve and I get back on track with work and workouts. I did miss the gym these past four days, but enjoyed the break! I have a big show this coming weekend, Christmas shopping to do and a party to plan. And what will I wear?! Guess I’d better get off the computer and get to work.

Today Steve and I decided to start decorating for Christmas. There was a time when I was adamantly against any sort of Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving, but that time has passed. I do reserve putting up the tree until the weekend after Thanksgiving, but I’ve realized that I can’t possibly decorate the entire house in one weekend and stay sane. I also can’t do it the first weekend in December because I have WinterFest and will be busy the whole time. I admit I like starting a bit early because it means I can enjoy it longer. I do love Christmas, but decorating brings a little sadness as I unwrap all the ornaments and decorations from my childhood. By the time I put on The Beach Boys Christmas Album for the first time, I’m usually in tears. But that sadness quickly goes away as the season progresses.

I remember my childhood Christmases fondly. My parents didn’t have a lot of money, but they managed to make the season special and my sister and I received a bounty of presents. My best memories center around celebrations with my grandparents. For many years we stayed home which meant celebrating with my paternal grandparents, Nana and Papa. Christmas Eve we’d have dinner at their house (boiled shrimp and salad, filet for my sister) and then we’d either attend church or Ralph and I would present a Christmas program. We always wore our fancy dresses and the evening wasn’t complete without a visit from Nana and Papa’s good friends, Jane and Pat Ciccone. Pat would play Christmas carols on his trumpet, we’d all sing, the grown ups would have a drink and Jane and Pat would be on their way. Finally, we’d gather around the tree and open gifts, but only the gifts from Nana and Papa. Once that was over, mom and dad would go home and Ralph and I would spend the night. The next morning, we’d rise as early as possible and wait until Nana and Papa said we could leave. Then we’d drive across town in our pajamas and see what goodies Santa had brought.

While we didn’t always spend Christmas Day with my maternal grandparents, Grammie and Keck, I also have fond memories of holiday celebrations with them. I loved driving into Fulton at night and seeing the town outlined in white lights. It looked like a postcard. We always entered at the side door of their house and Grammie had the Christmas tree in a small bay window in the back. One of the great things about visiting was seeing what goodies Grammie had left for us on the dresser of the guest room. There were always two piles, one for me and another for Ralph. Even at Christmas, with all the gifts we’d receive, she had some treats for us. My Aunt Susie, Uncle Riley and cousin John would join us for the celebration. I remember most celebrations being at Susie and Riley’s house as we gathered in the front living room and opened presents. My cousin, being four years older than I, seemed so worldly! He would receive things like custom-made shirts and suits or L.L. Bean flannel lined pants, while my sister and I were still getting toys or books. I did love that my grandparents always gave us magazine subscriptions. My cousin received The Wall Street Journal, Ralph got Time or Newsweek and I received Vogue. After all the celebrating, we’d have dinner at Susie and Riley’s where the one rule was no jeans at the dinner table. One year, my cousin showed up wearing his slippers, but he had on khaki pants so he didn’t break the rule.

So while I’ll get a little teary thinking of Christmases past, I’ll enjoy the holiday and smile when I think of the good times we had when I was a kid. Hopefully, my nieces will someday feel the same way when they look back on family celebrations.

Fragrance has always played a strong role in my life. I remember my grandmother’s Ombre Rose and Estee Lauder White Linen perfumes. My grandfather wore Grey Flannel and my dad wore Old Spice. My mom wore Jean Nate for years until she discovered Obsession. My first grown-up fragrance was Babe by Faberge, even though I asked for Love’s Baby Soft. In high school, all the cool guys wore Polo by Ralph Lauren. I wore Enjoli, Tatiana or Gloria Vanderbilt. In short, I’ve developed a nose  for fragrance and can identify many of them instantly. Although my tastes have changed, I love catching a whiff of a past fragrance and remembering that time in my life.

When I met Steve, he wore Crest by Ralph Lauren. I loved the way it smelled on him. It was discontinued a few years later, but he still wears many fragrances from the Ralph Lauren collection. I like that they’re manly and subtle at the same time. Plus, the scents remind me of him and I admit I love sniffing his shirts when he’s away! However, I wonder if I’d have been as attracted to him had he worn something called this:

Hmm, when it says, “It’s Baaad,” are they talking about the smell or the attitude? I’m guessing it’s the smell. I imagine the man who wears this probably likes gold chains and his shirts unbuttoned to his navel. Yes, I’m stereotyping but can you blame me? Perhaps I’d be more attracted to the rugged,outdoorsy type:

Is it a cologne or Cher’s new son? This guy is telling the world he’s still a cowboy despite being dressed up in a tux. I’m willing to bet the fragrance is a blend of sweat, manure and whiskey. Perhaps something sportier:

Mmm, rugged. Hey, if it’s good enough for Joe Namath, it must be good enough for the average Joe, right? Besides, according to this ad, he doesn’t need it presumably because he smells so good on his own. Perhaps we should smell what the girls are wearing:

This was my favorite when I was in college. I adored the rich, spicy smell and always felt so chic when I wore it. I recently sniffed it again and about gagged. Too heavy! But the 80s were all about excess and I loved my heavy perfume. Here’s one I remember but never wore:

Can you believe this crap?! The copy reads, “Behind every great woman, there’s a man.” Ok, perhaps they are referring to Pierre Cardin, but still! With that, I think our trip down memory lane is over. What are you wearing today? I’ll be spritzing on my Stella by Stella McCartney.

I always envied the people with birthdays that fell during the school year because they got a party at school and everyone got cupcakes. I also envied fall/winter birthdays because the weather was chilly, my favorite. I wonder if my mom felt like one of the lucky kids because her birthday fell in the fall. Far enough from Christmas and well into the school year, I imagine she had fun celebrating with her classmates.Make no mistake, I had many exciting summer birthday parties so I’m not here to complain.

I’m happy to report that, as an adult, I don’t find my mom nearly as annoying as I did when I was a kid. And I’m sure she feels the same way about me! Actually, I imagine had I had children, they’d be raised with the same discipline and values she instilled in my sister and me. Proof of her mothering is evident in the way my nieces are being raised. She wasn’t one to take any crap off us.

I learned the importance of thanking people in handwritten notes and was often told if I didn’t write them in a timely manner, I would not be enjoying my presents. I also learned to own my mistakes, say “I’m sorry” when it was necessary, and not blame everyone around me for my problems. I also learned to enjoy a good joke, especially a pun. Basically, she didn’t try to be my friend while I was growing up, she tried to be my mother.

And I gave her a good run for her money time and time again. I had (have) a smart mouth and tended to blurt out my opinions often. This meant I learned the taste of bar soap at an early age. I’m sure I said many hateful, hurtful things to her during my rebellious teenage years, but I really didn’t mean them. Well, I may have at the time, but I certainly don’t now.

My entire life I’ve been told I look like my mother, to which I responded with eye rolling and, “I’ve heard that before.” Now I joke that I’m really adopted, but am seriously glad we resemble each other. While I don’t always love my figure (who does?) I hope I look as young and vibrant at 65 as she does. Oops! I just revealed her age! Well, I hope she’ll forgive me because she should be proud of how great she looks. She’s physically active, has a positive outlook on life and truly seizes the day each and every day.

Happy Birthday mom and Happy Anniversary to you and Burl. May you have many more “birthaversaries” to celebrate in the future. I love you.

It’s no secret I’ve been in a creative slump and it’s been depressing. I’ve been trying to force myself to create and I think it’s obvious that never works. But something happened in the studio last week to get me going again and it’s been exciting. As I mentioned before, Steve and Sarah were encouraging me to create something for myself and stop worrying about resale. I took their advice and created these last week:

It’s a little hard to see in this horrible picture (I really must cut back on the coffee), but the bottom piece arcs out creating a lovely piece from both the front and side views. I’ve worn them almost every day . They go with everything, are large enough to be a statement, and are comfortable to wear. Inspired, I began playing with the design and created these:

It’s a little hard to tell in the photo, but they do not lay flat. The middle section is angled. These aren’t quite as long as the first ones. I think these measure about 1.5″ and the other ones are close to 2.5″. Today I finished these and I think they might be my favorite so far:

Again, the bottom piece arcs towards the front and creates a nice silhouette. I’m working on a couple more ideas and will post them as soon as they’re done. In the meantime, I have to figure out how much I’m going to charge for these babies. Look for their debut at WinterFest.