"She should have been born as a boy!"

Today at lunch I was leaving the local Wendy's with Jen, and as we walked toward my car I accidentally splooshed into a huge puddle, sending water spraying all over the place (but luckily not on Jen). I yelled a "Sorry!" over my shoulder to her and turned around, only to see an older lady laughing and smiling at my wet boots.

"Look at her!" she laughed, obviously amused and delighted by my puddle splashing. "Look at her splashing around in that water! She should have been born as a boy!" And she laughed, tickled that a grown woman wearing furry boots with pom poms would be splashing around in puddles with not a second thought.

I was confused at first, but I was secretly pleased that the lady thought I was so carefree and whimsical. Actually, I would have splashed around in the puddles on purpose, except that Jen was behind me and I didn't want to soak her. But later on I stepped in a few nice, big puddles, just for good measure (before the rain turned to snow).

And why would I have to be a boy? My very girly but durable boots were certainly made for exploring the biggest and splashiest puddles out there, that's for sure!

Baby shower for Jonneal and Quinn

Here are some pix from Saturday's baby shower for my cousin Quinn and his wife, Jonneal. The shower was held at the Jolly Inn Restaurant in Chicago on Irving Park Rd. The food was a rather impressive Polish buffet, and the cake was whipped cream with chocolate and strawberry sections (I believe). There were tons of little hand and foot cookies, which Pete promptly ate when I brought them home. Lots of people showed up and the atmosphere was fun and festive.


My plate full of pierogi, fried chicken, wild rice, potato pancakes, and something called rool


Me and ma


Sam and the shower attendees


Jonneal and Quinn opening gifts


Mmmm, cake!

Tomorrow I'll be posting some pix from the Christmas tree trip to White Pines State Park (where we got married in August) and Sinissippi Forest.

Grant me immunity

I'm not sure what to do anymore. I consider myself a person who follows a fairly healthy lifestyle. I don't smoke, I drink only once in a while, I eat well, I get some exercise and sleep (both areas I'm trying to improve), I take my vitamins and I'm in a healthy, loving relationship (with Pete AND my pets). I eat lots of fresh foods, salads, organics, I go easy on dressings and other things (butter, creams, spreads, etc.) and I try to stay away from red meat and other problematic foods.



But as you may have noticed, my immune system seems to have given up, and I'm constantly getting colds or feeling under the weather (like now). My skin is horribly broken out (has been since our honeymoon) and I'm constantly suffering from weird aches and pains. My stomach is always a mess and I am forever having trouble coexisting with certain foods. I'm always dead tired and hurting, and as a result, I'm crabby, moody, and sullen. I don't want to do anything that requires great physical effort because I just can't muster up the energy. So what gives?



Yes, my Hooveritis* has much to do with it, I suppose. I've noticed a general demise in my overall health since it began almost two years ago. It tends to act up during the colder months, too. But I get regular massages and have been working out to help keep flexible and loose. And yes, I've always been plagued by headaches and migraines, especially during the last several years, but I've been careful to avoid triggers like red wine and try to get plenty of sleep (I try). Of course I have a very stressful job, and times are tough, but that's been the case in past years and have never been so sickly like this. I wake up every day feeling like I'm 85, not 35. What am I doing wrong?



Have you been having trouble with your health? What kinds of problems do you have? What do you do to feel better? Do you work out, eat right, sleep well, take vitamins, etc., or do you have another regimen you follow? I'm curious to know, because although I am taking steps to get healthier, not much seems to be changing. It's almost scary. No, it IS scary!

One POSITIVE change though: Claire has so helpfully suggested that I take Lysine for my canker sores. Since I started taking it several weeks ago, I have not had a single recurrence, which is utterly remarkable to me. So thank you, Claire! Every little bit helps.



Anyhow, I hope you are feeling great, healthy, happy, energetic, and well rested wherever you are and whatever you're doing, and I hope you are dodging those winter bugs so far too!


*Undiagnosed nerve disorder/injury that causes pain, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion

My trusty new Sportos

I just simply adore these waterproof boots by Sporto. I was in need of some sturdy, warm boots—yes, I actually NEEDED boots, not just WANTED them—and found these wonderfully cute yet functional boots that suited my needs. And the perfect test drive? Our annual Christmas tree trip yesterday, which involved lots of hiking, snow, and freezing temps. These beauties performed flawlessly. Not only did my feet stay toasty and dry—a first for me, ever, with winter boots—but they repelled dirt and moisture like no one's business, and looked super cute to boot (ha ha). My feet felt great all day, and even after a long hike through a snowy forest, I had no aching arches or tired toes to speak of.

Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed and kept repeatedly saying to no one in particular, "I can't believe it! I have never had boots that have kept my feet so warm and dry in my life, ever! I love these boots!" People kept giving me weird looks, but that's okay. When I really like something and it exceeds my expectations, I like to share with the world.

I have the pretty black pair you see above, but they also come in a rich brown and a gorgeous winter white. I'd suggest ordering a size larger because your toes will rub the tips otherwise. I normally wear an 8-8.5, but I got a 9 and they're perfect. Plus this way you can layer socks if need be. You can try them on at DSW, but they don't seem to carry them online in their store. However, I've given you an online site (Planet Shoes) with the cheapest prices and free shipping, too, so check 'em out. Enjoy!

(P.S. Zappos carries these shoes as well, albeit at a higher price, but they also offer a pretty taupe color.)

"And they call it puppy love..."

A good motivating factor for getting your dog spayed is to watch her and your (neutered) male dog run around the house for hours, humping each other, sniffing each others' hoo-has, and whimpering in sexual frustration as they knock magazines off the table and generally tear up the house.



Adora wasn't fixed when we got her, and it's been something we have to do that's just been on the back burner with our recent wedding and all, but that magical time is here again. And it's an almost disturbing site to watch them, since Adora and Spanky normally act as brother and sister, fighting over bones and our affection, teasing each other, and getting annoyed when the other one sits on their face (that would be Adora sitting on Spanky's face). I get a weird sensation when all this goes on, as if I'm watching siblings chasing each other, and I end up feeling thoroughly weirded out.

I can't say that the recent episode when Pete and I tackled Adora in that McDonald's parking lot last weekend to put her little Pup'sters doggy diaper on her while children pointed and mothers looked on, horrified, was any less of a motivating factor. And I do admit I tire of taking Adora aside after she has once again torn off her plastic britches and explaining to her that she needs to keep them on, because mama doesn't take her underpants off and sit on all the furniture when she has her period, now does she?

I'm making an appointment for Adora today.

Photo of the Week: "Really Missing Hawaii Right About Now"

As I write this from the frozen tundra of Illinois...

'Nuff said.

Pretty pencil skirt and slick black boots for an icy Thursday

Ann Taylor Loft wool pencil skirt with velvet trim (from thrift store), Nine West "Exotic" boots bought on clearance at DSW


Closeup of the skirt and velvet trim/bow detail (slip's showing!) and boots, plus the sweater knit tights that I never wear but really should, because they're so pretty (bought them from Target a few years ago)

(Boy, I should really invest some time in some new and different camera angles and outfit shots.)

The mini skirt

Speaking of mini skirts...

What do you define as a mini skirt? Who should wear one and who shouldn't? Why?



This is something I've been thinking about for quite some time, long before I turned 35 this September. It seems everyone has an opinion on how women should dress appropriately for their age (whatever that means). And the debate over how old you should be before you stop wearing mini skirts is a never-ending one.



It surprises me how worked up people get about this issue, too. I googled this subject and read many message board posts with varying opinions, all hotly debated. People's opinions range from the belief that no one should wear a mini past 18 to the belief that you should wear whatever you want, as long as your bits and pieces aren't hanging out and you look decent. A "mini" can be defined as hitting anywhere from a few inches above your knee to barely clearing the butt cheeks. I personally think anything resembling the latter is a micro-mini (as some of these photos show), and something like the skirt below is a more standard mini skirt length.



I must admit, I'm in that more easy-going group. I mean, if a woman wears a skirt that is, say, 4-5 inches above her knee, looks nice, and isn't completing the look with fishnets and spike heels, then what's wrong with that? Why must we suddenly adopt a certain dress code once we hit a certain age? I have seen 18 year olds wearing minis who struggle with the look, and 45 year olds wearing minis who look awesome.



Do I ever think about that older woman being too old for such a look? Of course not. I always admire people who look good, who are stylish, and who can rock a certain look. The more artistic and fashion-edgy element of society tends to buck the system and do whatever they please, but once you start talking about the rest of the population, there are suddenly rules and regulations about fashion. Of course, you should always follow the dress code of your particular job, but otherwise I think if you can swing it, why not?



To show how silly this age rule is, think of this. Should it be said that once you're over a certain weight you shouldn't wear, say, leggings? What weight would that be? 135 pounds? 150? 200? 300? You could stand two women side by side who are both the same weight and they can look radically different from each other. And why should either woman be restricted from wearing something because of a number? If they weighed 5 pounds more than the "limit", are they suddenly excluded from wearing leggings? Or should they keep a pair on hand in case they hit that magical number again? The same ridiculous argument applies to wearing a mini skirt, I think, except age is the deciding factor. But what about an 80 year old wearing a mini, you ask. Well, if she can work that outfit, then wow, I'm impressed! And if not? Hey, she's 80, she can do what she wants!



I saw this post on a message board regarding denim mini skirts today:



I see nothing wrong with wearing a denim mini skirt. How is it different from wearing a pair of shorts, aside from the fact that people might see your panties if you bend over too far? As long as you have the legs, who cares. I think the real issue is society is uncomfortable with women over a certain age flaunting their sexuality. For whatever reason, only teenagers and women under 40 are allowed to look attractive in clothes. We are told it's really because we're older and should have dignity and we're mothers and so on. But I think you can be an adult and have dignity while looking attractive and sexual. Nevertheless we seem uncomfortable with this idea and we're afraid of seeing the ravages of age that every woman over 35 supposedly have. As you can see with celebrities and women you may even know, not every female over a certain age has a terrible body that should be covered up. Many women 35 and older take really good care of themselves and in my opinion have earned the right to flaunt what they have. Part of the fun of being a woman is dressing up and showing off your figure. I don't know why a woman shouldn't enjoy it as long as she can. If anything, I think teenagers should dress more conservatively and adult women of every age should be free to showcase their sexuality.



Now, I'm not saying women should start wearing itty bitty skirts to flaunt what they have, and I don't think that's what this person meant. I think the point is if you feel like wearing a shorter skirt, why not? In the end, I think it should be the length of the skirt and not the age of the woman that should determine whether it should be worn or not.



What do you think?

(Third image courtesy of Corbis)

Missing my cameras

Shooting in a gift shop in the Adirondacks, summer '07

I'm in one of those funks right now where I don't take many photos, and I'm not sure why. I've been busy lately, that's for sure, but I haven't been feeling very inspired either. It's sad, because I see so much beauty around me, and I also see lots of wonderful images being captured by others. What gives? I dunno. It's hard to jump start something like creativity that just tends to happen all the time, and it's something I take for granted. Ugh, frustrating!

So I'm in need of a kick in the pants as far as my creative juices go. What do you do to get things humming along again? Any advice?

Gap plaid wool mini skirt and black boots for a slushy day

Gap plaid wool mini


Me in my mini and boots (and the lovely kitchen floor, under construction)


Oooh, look—pockets!

Today I wore my cozy but light Gap plaid mini skirt that I got on clearance several weeks ago for $15. At the time I bought it, it sat waaaay too high up on my hips (due to my more voluptuous frame back then) and I had to put it aside for a while. I whittled my waistline on my treadmill for the last month or so, and it seems to fit low enough on my hips now to be appropriate for wearing in public. Give me another month or two and it'll be another few inches lower. I paired the skirt with the black version of my beloved Chilis boots, which was perfect for today's inclement weather.

And look—my skirt has pockets! How cool is that?

Dietary detective

Sigh...

Well, I'm sloooowly figuring out what I can and can't eat. And this is all by trial and error, which is unfortunate, but it's the only way I can see which foods don't like me. I've noticed trends in reactions to certain foods and I've learned to start avoiding them (or adding them if the reactions are good).

Like red meat. Boy, do I love red meat. I would say I'm a borderline vegetarian wannabe (I hate the thought of eating animals), but red meat lures me back all the time. But for the last several years, it hasn't been too kind to my digestive system. That steak I ate this weekend at my inlaws' home? Ugh, I don't even want to go into what happened for the next few days after eating it. And you would think I'd realize this right away, but I haven't. I always chalked up my stomach issues to a bad cut of meat, or that I was just not feeling well in general, etc. More and more often, however, I've noticed this isn't the case, and unless I eat a tiny amount of red meat once in a while, the stuff always messes with me and I feel sick for a day or so as it works its way through my digestive system.



Same thing with stuff like orange juice, salt, coffee, ice cream (sob!), some cheeses, spicy foods... And on the same token, I have found out what my body loves, most recently during a "cleansing" diet during the summer in which I ate nothing but fish, chicken, rice products, fruits and veggies, and herbal tea. Let me tell you, my body was in heaven. It especially seems fond of rice products, which is good, because I find them pretty tasty. And I love stuff like sushi, fresh fruit, chamomile tea and cream, chicken, etc. But a girl does tire of healthy stuff after a while, and of course I succumb to the evils of fried and fatty foods. And what happens? The ill health (headaches, upset stomach, general malaise) comes back with a vengeance. Funny that candy never seems to bother me, unless I eat several pounds of it during the course of the day (not that I've ever done that, ahem). I do adore the stuff and must restrain myself at all times. And I'm sure someday my teeth will just give up and wearily fall out of my head anyhow, rotten to the core and waving little white flags.



I just woke up with yet another killer headache, which is similar to the one I got on Saturday morning after having lots of salty foods on Friday. And what did I have last night? Lots of salty foods (pretzels, baked fries, baked chips). No matter how much water I drink, I seem to wake up with borderline migraines (or full-blown migraines) if I eat too much salt the night before. Which is really, really sad, just like red meat, because I LOVE salty foods. But they don't love me, and I really need to start saying no to the delicious stuff.



Do you have any dietary problems you've been able to identify? Do you find certain foods leave your body happy? I'm curious to hear all about it.

(Photos courtesy of Chewing the Cud, NYMag, Black Tomato, Lifehack)

My poor Maxy-poo

Isn't this a lovely photo? This was taken last week. I happened to walk into our spare (storage) room looking for something, and I saw him dozing on these pillows next to some vivid fake pink roses. The sun was hitting him just right, and he looked very peaceful. I ran to get my iPhone, and when I came back he was sitting up, looking a little sleepy and bewildered. I'm sure he wasn't feeling all that great with his bad allergies and sores, but he's doing better and is already a bit perkier than he has been. You can see one of the red crusty/bloody spots under his chin in the photo. Poor thing.

Oh well, just wanted to share a picture of my Max.

A mangled mess

My horribly overcrowded and messy jewelry box (notice the cleaning equipment in the background)


Even the drawers are jammed full of stuff.


A close up of the chaos. Notice the wine cork among the baubles, a souvenir from our engagement bottle of wine

Things are out of control in my jewelry box. Several years ago when I first bought it, it seemed like such a luxurious space, just waiting to be filled with all my trinkets. Fast forward to now, when I can barely shut the lid, earrings are disorganized and missing, and necklaces are tangled and jumbled. I hate it, but it'll have to do for the moment. I'm not the type of person to hang each set of earrings on a holder or something, but I do like keeping them in bins according to color and style (studs together, colors together, hoops together, etc.). And as you can see, that is no longer happening here, is it?

I would love to get this jewelry armoire from Pier 1, but it's a bit outside my price range. Still, it's very cool and would definitely fit all my stuff—right now, that is. I can't seem to stop adding a little here and a little there...

Toasty Tuesday

Benetton scarf (from the Community Thrift Store, $1.88) and Delia's sweater


Vintage bracelet (from the Barrington sidewalk sale this summer) and Levi's


Nine West granny boots—first wear!


"Pearl" earrings bought for my wedding but never worn
(Pardon the neckne, I've been breaking out quite badly lately.)

I almost wore a nice skirt ensemble today, but I was a) feeling crappy and b) freezing. So I went with the scarf and sweater set. I always regret not wearing a skirt once I get to work, though. I arrive there and invariably there are fashionable skirts, shoes, and boots on parade. Then I feel like I missed out and should have just gone for it. And I almost always end up feeling better later in the day anyhow, so I really have no excuse, do I?

I played a little bit of fashion show for the animals tonight when we got home. I was trying to piece together an outfit for tomorrow featuring a skirt (snow be damned!) but was struggling to put just the right pieces together. I seem to buy things I like that don't necessarily match other things, so then I have to try to buy stuff that coordinates with my purchases. Anyhow, between detaching Dollie from my hanging shirts (my closet is a playland paradise to her) and making sure the dogs weren't getting into trouble, I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing. Maybe I'll feel inspired tomorrow when my mind is fresh and rested...I hope.

S(l)ick journey, sick hubby, sick cat, sick treadmill

(Picture taken last winter near Savanna)

How was your weekend? I've been very absent from the blogosphere, and I miss it. But I've been out and about with the holidays and unable to blog until now. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and ate lots of good things. I know I sure did! It was nice to be off for so long though. The time always seems to fly by so fast, whereas it drags while I'm at work. Isn't that the way it always is?

Pete (who is currently sick and dealing with severe nausea) and I got home late last night from our trip out to Savanna. It was rather hairy at times, and we saw several cars that had driven off the road. We even had a bit of trouble and slid off once, and then got stuck in some ruts a second time. Three and a half hours later—and rather late at that—we were all home safe and warm, a bit shaken but okay.


(Pete—and me—during healthier times)

I just got home from taking Max to the vet. He had developed a severe allergic reaction to some previous flea bites, and had to get a steroid shot, an antibiotic shot, and flea meds (to get rid of any lingering unwanted guests). Anyhow, he's back at home eating his food and hopefully feeling better by the minute.


(Max during healthier times)

Well, I'm off to run on my wacky treadmill. It's developed a habit of running at random speeds when I first start it, which is great fun. I get on thinking I'm going to do a nice slow pace, and then it suddenly revs up to light speed. I've been lucky that I haven't been thrown off it yet, but it's definitely scared me a few times. I discovered if I let it run for a few minutes that it eventually calms down and acts normally. I'm not sure how long I can maintain this band aid on the the problem before it totally wacks out on me and never behaves again. So, long story short, I'm going to go run while it's still working somewhat decently.


(The treadmill during healthier times)

Anyhow, that's where I'm headed now, then back to blogland goes I, after I attend to my poor honey and cook him some soup. See you around!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday. I'm off to work out and finishing putting the chocolate ganache on my Darn Good Chocolate Cake (I'll post the recipe this weekend). And my garlic mashed potatoes are whipped up and ready to roll. I added chives this year (fresh, of course) to be a little different. I'll let you know what people say (good and bad).

See you tomorrow!

(Photo courtesy of National Geographic)

In search of...white/ivory/cream sweater dress

I'm starting a new feature called "In search of..." where I will mention things I am searching for to add to my wardrobe, yet I seem to be having no luck finding them. I'm hoping this might lead to some tips and suggestions from you all so that I may find what I'm looking for.

If you have anything in particular you are trying to find, drop me a line or leave a comment. I'm especially good at finding shoes (big shocker), but I've been known to spot other kinds of bargains and one-of-a-kind items.

And I'm not limiting this search to just stuff on sale. That's not my point. I just have certain things I'd really like and am having trouble locating them. If they are full price, so be it, but of course any sort of discount is preferred.



Okay, today's "In search of..." item is the elusive white/ivory/cream sweater dress. I just adore the look of a white sweater dress paired with black tights and a nice pair of black mary janes (or boots, if you prefer). So, so, so very cool! I first saw this outfit worn by my sister's friend, Caroline, many eons ago in college. Every time she'd wear it I was just blown away by how cool it looks. I've always wanted to wear it but never quite found the right dress. So that brings me to my desperate search.

But Chris, you say, I see those everywhere! How can you NOT find one? Well, let me explain. I'm searching for a particular cut, style, and material. I do love some of the sweater dresses out there, but my big problem is the cut. They are usually shaped like potato sacks, which is nice and comfy, but totally ignore the most flattering part of my figure, my waist. And I've tried belting such dresses, but they just look all bunchy and weird and it adds extra bulk to my middle. For example, the dress above is nice, although a wee bit short for my tastes.

So, what are my criteria? Well, my ideal sweater dress would hit just above or below the knee. It would be a medium-weight sweater material (nothing horribly bulky or too sheer) and be a nice winter white color. That can mean anywhere from an off-white to almost cream. I'm not super particular about the weave, although I don't like tons of detail on this type of dress. No pockets, no huge cowl neck (although turtlenecks are okay), and it can be short sleeve. The most crucial detail is the cut, which should be somewhat structured so that it fits my midsection and then glides away from my massive birthing hips in a nice, flattering pseudo-A-line, straight, or similar cut. I don't want anything skin-tight or figure hugging below the waist (NOT pretty on my body type). But above the waist, yes.



(I like that third dress from Victoria's Secret, although the neckline might get annoying.)

Anyhow, there you have it. That's one of the many things I'm in search of. I'm adding a widget to my blog with a list that will constantly be updated with things I'm searching for and things I've found. I'm possibly shopping with Georgia tomorrow at DSW, so if I happen to stumble into a few clothing stores afterward, I'll definitely be on the lookout for my sweater dress.

(Photos courtesy of She Strikes a Pose and The Fashion Bomb)