Category Archives: Fashion

Godzilla meets the Lion Tamer…an epic tale of surviving summer break

June 13, 2011

This week marks the end of school. The beginning of summer. What better way to kick it off than with a walk down memory lane?

First Summer Home with 2 kids: Sink or Swim?

Spoiler Alert! I sank. I didn’t even have a chance. I was drowning, I was gasping for air, I hated that summer. DD1 was 3.5 and horrible. DD2 was 6 months old and suddenly gained her mobility and morphed from sweet drooling baby into Godzilla, a super human creature who’s only purpose in life was to mercilessly terrorize every Little People village her sister had carefully arranged, chew on each book her sister wanted to read and destroy any block tower that might have just been assembled. It was war. I lost every battle.  And to boot, one of life’s great unsolved mysteries emerged: exactly how does a 6 month old crawl so quickly and why are they magnets for elder sibling’s toys? So I headed into the next summer with a whole new plan, armed with tactics, prepared to win and enjoy the summer. This battle worn soldier couldn’t lose again.

#notwinning

Summer 2 home with the kids: Life vest

Spoiler Alert: my life vest mocked me. All summer long.

This time I boarded the ship prepared. My life jacket purchased in the form of 4 beautiful words: CAMP. Lots and lots of CAMP. But see, what I failed to anticipate was that much changes in one year of the lives of these little people. My wounds were still open and fresh but the children had moved on. How could I fail to realize that Godzilla can’t really survive for one year with an older sibling? Think of the eldest like a lion tamer: breaking the beast, taming the savage soul and maybe assaulting them a few times. Godzilla morphs into a different kind of species when she is 18 months old. True, a child headed straight for the 2s is still part-human, part-beast but at least they have more control over their motor skills when lingering around block towers. And the eldest is more adept at handling younger sibling assault on their world. Another lesson for me:  3.5 year olds don’t stay that miserable argumentative nasty way forever and as it turns out, at least chez moi, 4.5 year olds are fun and fabulous companions. So there I had shipped her off to various weekly camps only for me and DD2 to look at each other, and wonder where our playmate was, especially DD2. I had naively shipped off the companion who kept the 18 month old entertained, busy and tired her out for naps. I PAID to send away our buddy. What the? My life vest deflated. I was beat again. When will I not suck at anticipating how to manage for a great summer home?

#definitelynotbiwinning

Summer 3 home with the kids: Lifeguard

And so begins summer 3 home with the kids. We’re off to a good start, we are miraculously diaper free chez moi, they are now 2.5 and 5.5 (have you seen the new spring in my step as I bypass the diaper aisle at Target with an extra $20 to blow on something dumb?) and after my steep learning curves the past two summers, dare I say I am heading into this summer with an all new plan: the pool. We are super camp light and planning on lots of pool time. But will I fail to anticipate again? So far, I have a huge ding against me because DH is headed off to a new job that puts him in San Fran 4 days of every week through the summer. I wasn’t counting on that when I signed them up for basically no camps this summer . . .Will I sink or swim this year? Stay tuned, you know you’ll be hearing about it.

#winning?

Until then, let’s cover what accessories  a gal needs to survive the summer.

The first is the appropriate pool or beach bag and that bag is the Scout bag. This bag changed my pool/beach experience because it’s stylish and has 6 pockets around the outside of the bag. Never has it been so easy to store sunglasses, iPhone, camera, sun block, kid’s trash,  snacks, water bottles and actually FIND these things with ease. Naturally the bag was created by a local DC mother who has 4 kids, so it’s no wonder it’s a miracle worker.

Speaking of miracle workers, what I need is the right swimsuit. I tend to go for halters but is this really a good idea when children are climbing all over you and creating multiple chances for a wardrobe malfunction on any given day? My youngest likes to shove her pool toys down the suit as if it’s her own personal pocket.  Does style need to be compromised in favor of practicality? Have you found the perfect swimsuit that is stylish but functional? I’m desperate here, friends. Speak up. Links encouraged.

And my final summer survival necessity for those of you who are beach bound but don’t live steps from the beach: the Wonder Wheeler Deluxe (WWD). The minivan of beach carts, this thing screams dork, flashes parenthood in bright lights, earns you mockery from teens for being  lame, but when a beach trip heads south (and really, how often do they not), you can toss all your gear and chairs and umbrellas into this thing (and sometimes I think a few kids) and clear the beach in record time.

So with that, what are your plans for summer survival? And did you find a great suit? Let me know.

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Babes Around the Beltway, DC Parenting Blogger, Fashion, Husbands, Life with 2 kids, Motherhood, Preschool, Summer Camps, Summer Survival with Kids, Swimsuits for Moms, Tantrums, Toddler Antics, Washington Mommy Blogger

Dog Days

July 25, 2010

Though the media would have you believe we’re like 2 days into our second heat wave of the summer, the rest of us living it  realize that we’re like 8 weeks into a perpetual, ongoing, never-ending, horrendous, humid-suffocating summer. Each day I think it’s got to break and each day it doesn’t….and suddenly I’m realizing….I have bad hair, a bad attitude and cranky kids acting like this.

Is it winter, minus the bad hair part? Oh and the heat. Because I sure am feeling the similarities…..we are stuck inside because the weather is too horrible to go outside, we are getting sick of indoor activities, and we are getting really CRANKY.

I’ve also decided my blog is aptly named…not because I’m all hip and tech savvy and cool but because my hair has looked like a lion’s mane every day since Memorial Day.

But not a brave roaring lion queen.or a sexy pool goddess…instead I look like this.

Is that hot?

I didn’t think so.

Am I alone in longing for fall? The crisp mornings, the warm afternoons, the cords, the fabulous fall sweaters, I’d even happily rake  leaves right now if it were only October. I am beyond living in the moment, I am officially over summer 2010.

I am certain that come Fall 2010, my hair will look like this and my children will be seen acting only like this.
Are you with me?

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Fashion, Life with 2 kids, Motherhood, Play, Preschool, Toddler Antics

If the shoe fits……..

November 10, 2009

Buy it.

Reads a coin purse a good friend gave to me. It is a motto that I take seriously. Until I realized, DD2 turns 1 later this month, DD1 turns 4 in about a week, and I haven’t purchased a new pair of shoes in ONE YEAR.

GASP.

Is this a national emergency? A fashion crisis of epic proportions?

I think it most certainly is. Or was, as the case may be.

Not only is it criminal how long it’s been since I purchased a new pair of shoes, it is even more critical because during this past year, I’ve transitioned from working full-time to staying home. Of course this dramatic change in wardrobe comes with a dramatic style shift. And the problem is that I’ve built up a fabulous work wardrobe over the past 12+ years but invested really nothing in casual wear.

And while I didn’t notice it along the way, it turns out that I have a flair for heels. I have a closet chock full of fabulous heels for every season, in all kinds of colors, patterns, heel styles. Plaid? Got them. Mules? Plenty. Open toes with platform? Which color you want? Leopard print heels? How many you need?

But practical flats? Apparently they never really fell on my radar screen as a working gal.  What does it say about you when you notice you are a heels or a flats gal? And what do you do when your lifestyle forces a change from being a heels gal to a flats gal?

So while my fabulous heels are collecting dust and quietly call out to me – begging me to grace my feet with them – they just aren’t practical for me anymore. I need quick on, quick off. I thought lathering up two squirmy kids with sunblock was a pain all summer long. It’s nothing on bundling up two kids in coats, hats, socks and shoes while they protest and scream and throw fits the whole time. It usually takes me at least 20 mins, and ends with me red faced, sweaty, and supremely annoyed. But I am determined to get outside with them as much as possible.

So once I’ve accomplished this enormous and nobel peace prize winning feat- properly dressing two kids for cold weather – there is no time for shoes that take time (laces, zippers, forget it).  And of course, I also need shoes that are practical for long walks pushing 2 kids in stroller (you’re looking at about 70 combined pounds), stomping through leaves, random rain showers, etc.

So the question of practicality and comfort comes into play and complicates everything.

Yet I refuse to dress frumpy and lacking in style every day. It’s true. I LOVE seeing ambush makeovers on the Today Show – but I just don’t understand how anyone has an excuse to let themselves go and not get a haircut in 10 years. There’s no excuse. So, being one year behind in purchasing shoes and having no appropriately stylish stay-at-home mom shoes, I peeled into the Nordstrom half-yearly sale as fast as my tires could burn rubber turning the corner.

My list of requirements was long but I was determined and committed to the goal: stylish and practical shoes.

First, I considered Uggs. I have never been drawn to them and always felt they were over priced but figured, if I’ll be wearing them every day, maybe they are the perfect shoe for me – easy on and off, no heel, not sneakers, but still stylish.  Or at least popular.

So I tried them on.

And immediately started sweating. Before I tried to properly dress two squirming insane red heads.

The Uggs were then immediately ruled out. Perhaps if I lived in a colder climate but it doesn’t get that cold here and there is no way I can walk around sweating my ass off. It’s bad enough my hair is butt and I am red faced and sweaty all summer long  – I don’t need my shoes doing that to me all winter. We’ll leave that to my kids doing that to me.

So I moved on.

I tore through the sale wracks at Nordstrom and I didn’t even really clean up after myself. I was a gal on a mission.

And it was truly love at first sight.  Drumroll please……..

For the cooler fall and winter days, I came away with these practical yet still stylish boots.  They come on and off easily, there is no zipper, and I can easily wear them under or over pants.

For the not as cool days, I came away with these fabulous and super comfortable flats. They hug my feet so perfectly, I honestly feel like I am walking in slippers.

And the bottom line is this – add a scarf or a piece of jewelry and with the right shoes, any outfit can go from lame and boring, to stylish and cute. It’s all about the accessories.

There you go, if the shoe fits, buy it.

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Fashion, Life with 2 kids, Motherhood

Fashion Forward this Fall

September 23, 2009

The calendar claims it’s fall……the temperature feels like oh – mid August – but with that, at long last comes WM’s Fall Fashion entry….not that any of my darling readers need help with looking fashion forward this favorite season of everyone’s.

I devoured some magazines and read up as much as possible online about what is HOT this season….and I can tell you that I like some of what I am seeing but not all.

Here is a quick review of the 10 most popular - in no particular order beyond how it enters my brilliant mind:

1. Open-toed shoes with tights

2. Ruffled shirts

3. Over-the-knee boots if you are at least 5’6 (I triple dog dare you to wear the Christian Louboutin ones in the link)

4. NEON colors…and of course…..anything in purple

5. Boyfriend Blazer

6. Sweater dresses - add in a chunky belt

7. Sweaters with a belt over them - be it a thin belt or a chunky belt

8. Layered necklaces

9. Flats with studs

10. Motorcycle leather jacket

You will notice I didn’t include two links – one for the open-toed shoes with tights and the other for the boyfriend blazer. I just gave up trying to find the link for the shoes and tights but saw it all over mags…..and I hate the boyfriend blazer-boyfriend jeans trend – so I refuse to perpetuate it with links.

I really can’t pull off the ruffled shirt trend. Some people can and I don’t mind it as a style – I just feel like I look like Seinfeld when he wore that Pirate ruffled shirt – remember that episode?

I am lukewarm on the studded flat trend. Truth is, I am content with the flats I already own, and though we’ve established that I am a gal who loves to need things – NEED them – I’m just not sure I am going to pull the trigger on studded flats. Time will tell.

You won’t catch me dead in over the knee boots….though staying home with two kids makes that trend completely useless to me even if I could pull off the look.

I am pretty sure transitioning to fall is the most favorite season for most of us, there is something so refreshing about putting on a warm sweater or cruising around town in a skirt and tights. For me, one of the hardest parts about fall fashion is the reality that it typically doesn’t feel like fall in DC until more like November…it’s torture waiting.  I am most in love with the belted sweater and sweater dress look this fall…….and always love tights and skirts.

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Fashion, Motherhood
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