I dress funny.  Husband even gave me a pile of money when we got to NYC and told me it was mine to spend on whatever I wanted.  It mostly went to food and souvenirs for the kids.  And a plain grey tee and a bracelet for me.  I saw tons of neat fancy clothes, but I had to admit to myself that fashion-wise, I’m a die hard pragmatist.  I have to wear what I feel purty in, but also what can be pulled on without exposing myself, and must accept that it will also be used as a Kleenex and may meet a premature end when a loving toddler covered in chocolate and mud decides to charge me.

But it goes deeper than that.

I LOVE clothes.  I e-window shop constantly.  I dream about outfits - literally.  I’d dress up every day if I could.  But I can’t.  I wear tee shirts and jeans almost everyday because of that pragmatism thing, but there’s something else I’m starting to realize about myself.

I performed a lot as a kid and teen.  Oh, and during those 7 years I spent pursuing multiple performance degrees.  Recitals, competitions and concerts - each with it’s own level of dressiness.  Sometimes I played well. Sometimes I bombed.  Heck, once I lost my place and just walked off stage.  And when I bombed, I’d think about how much time I’d spent primping, and how much time I’d spent actually practicing and preparing.  I always came to the sick conclusion that I’d much rather have looked less fancy and sounded better.  I WANT to be pretty, but I also want to do awesome things.  And for some reason, those two don’t coincide for me.  Some people look put together and have fabulous children and homes.  When I look put together my kids look like swamp things and the house is a disaster.  When they look good, I look certifiable.  But I (grudgingly) think I’d prefer that over looking good myself with nothing to show for it.

It would still be nice to think I could pull of wearing heels and something flashy on a random Tuesday.  But I’d look in the mirror, and change into trademark bag lady chic every time.

GPOYW - Nap time in Central Park edition.  The NYC trip was divine.  The head cold I am now sporting is less so.  Besides that and a house that looks like a pack of monkeys passed through, I am feeling quite blessed.

The next best thing to not having to chaperone a youth dance at all?  Having your awesome husband show up (not a small thing, seeing as we live a ^%$#% hour from the stake center) and hang out with you.  Oh yeah, we danced.  Have you seen the husband dance?  If not, you are an unlucky soul.  I don’t get to dance with him often, but holy smokes he’s got killer moves.  He makes even the electric slide awesome, which he forced me to do at our Atlanta wedding reception.  I was NOT amused, but at least I got to watch him doing it.

OMYGOSH I just realized that’s my mom back there!!  AWESOME!!  So anywho, I’m pretty sure we freaked out the teens but if I’m going to have to chaperone a dance, that’s just the price you gotta pay.  Not like last time, when they made all the chaperones do the Cha Cha Slide which I hate more than almost anything else in the entire universe.  NOT EXAGGERATING.  Anywho, THANK YOU HUSBAND.

Also, Google Chrome’s spell check keeps telling me I misspelled “chaperone” but Wikipedia said I was right.  Darn red angry squigglies are all over this post.

Now onto trying to plan my NYC trip this weekendish!!  ANY SUGGESTIONS??  Really, I think mostly I want to walk everywhere, eat everything and take pictures.  Anything else I MUST do??

Okay ladies, RUN over to thebrightbit and then gallop over to eShakti before Thursday so you can get a customized dresses for $20 off.

That sure brightened up my Monday!

I read this twice and then snorted.  I dare you to do differently.

GPOYW - twintastic edition.  She’s SO excited we have the same hair!  This will last until Monday when I go back in to get highlights and whatever other color that strikes my fancy.  But for now, I couldn’t think of another person I’d rather be twinners with. :)

Ma hairs: after.

verdict? still out… (Photo by onebrickshy)

I took some rainbow yarn that was in a tangled mess and rolledit into a ball. It was oddly satisfying and now I want to toss it around and play with it like I’m a kitten. (Photo by onebrickshy)

Have you ever thought - “Hey, I want a map of the world as big as my kitchen table.”  Me too! Is there nothing that Ikea can’t do?

First day of school, 4 year old kindergarten.  OUCH.

I apologize for writing an entire post in caps.  Although in this case, it is entirely appropriate.

HOLY SNAP SO IN A COUPLA WEEKS I’M TAKING A WEE VACATION.  AN ACTUAL VACATION, NO CHILDREN, JUST MY SEXY HUSBAND AND ME.  TO HERE.  I’M JUST AS SHOCKED AS YOU ARE.  THE LAST TIME I WAS IN NYC I STOOD OUTSIDE TRL AND WAVED AT CARSON DALY.  NO JOKE.  WE’RE GOING TO BE THERE LESS THAN 48 HOURS - ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT WE SIMPLY MUST DO??

I am SO PUMPED to get this album!!!

Balloons galore + mattress on the floor + the kids’s favorite babysitters and friends = the perfect 2 year old partay.  My Young Women (teen gals) from church wouldn’t hear of having me miss the Wednesday activity because the hubs had a meeting and it was the Dude’s birthday, so they came over (with Jenna - greatest counselor ever with her super kiddos) and played with the kids until the Dude looked like he was going to hyperventilate.  Heck, Jenna even brought the Dude home-made playdough!!!  There are so many awesome action shots I can hardly choose one!

This was my day yesterday.  I prefer the first scenario, myself :)

Have I mentioned the Dude is 2?  And that I am very conflicted about that fact?

Excuse the fact that this pic is blurry.  He’s 2.  They’re ALL blurry.

I love how I’m all “Let’s look adorable for posterity’s sake!” and he’s all “Why am I not in motion right now?  You have 2 seconds to start throwing me or imagonna start whining, so help me Elmo.”

Remember how when you’d wake up on your birthday or Christmas, the whole world felt different?  I try to create a different atmosphere in the house when there’s a birthday.  Not much, usually crepe streamers and tape - and for the Dude all I used here was balloons, yarn and construction paper.  Little things that make a big impact, you know?  I think he appreciated it.  (scroll for all 4 picture thingys)

My Dude is 2 today.  Really.

I have to admit, my favorite part of swim lessons is waiting outside the pool with the Dude for the half hour. We snuggle while he watches the trucks driving behind us like it’s the greatest movie ever. Nothing can be bad with the world when you have a Dude babbling and kissing your ears - his affection is so unaffected and genuine. I’ll have to remember this magical moment for later when we do some grocery shopping and he does his best impression of a rabid badger the entire time.

GPOYW - Trying To Amuse Myself And Take A Self Portrait Since The Dude Wouldn’t Stand Still To Take A Decent Picture As Usual And While I was Doing That I Got Distracted By His Screaming - edition.