Paas For A Moment.

This Easter will be a casual one at our house.  No formal meals, fancy dresses or complicated table centerpieces.  We seem to be coming into the holiday with a big case of low energy and general disdain for fuss.  Thank goodness the rest of our extended family seems to be on the same page.  You know you're not looking at a real Martha Stewart holiday when the email you send inviting everyone actually mentions that your house will not be clean and that people should bring pasta salad and wine.  I can't imagine why Better Homes and Gardens hasn't offered to come photograph the event.

Of course, Easter means egg dyeing and that always opens the door for Eliza and J.D. to regale everyone with their favorite stories about how I've ruined some of their egg decorating experiences.  Something happened to me when I had kids.  I've always had a little hippy/granola thing churning about, but once I actually produced children, I shot straight ahead into Earth Mother mode.  One year, I prepared brown eggs instead of white ones and we ended up with Easter eggs in a dazzling rainbow of khaki.  But my biggest Easter Fail came the year I felt the whole Paas egg coloring kits were just a little too commercial and that we needed something more organic.  So we dyed eggs using spinach juice and crushed berries.  Don't bother trying this yourself.  You need to soak an egg for about 10 hours in crushed raspberries to give it even a slight blush.  And your kids will never let it go.

I'm wearing these today:

They are extremely comfortable and have kind-of a biblical look which I think is appropriate considering the holiday.  Of course, I realize now I need to fast-track that pedicure appointment.  TMI?

And, if you're looking for something different to serve this Easter, try Ina Garten's Croque Monsieur instead of a big ham.  I've done this in years past and it has been very well-received.  It's easy to make for a crowd, it's a nice brunch/lunch item, it's Frenchy, the sauce you slather on it is the best liquid ever, and it goes nicely with a Sauvignon Blanc.  Enjoy!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

gratitude:  running errands as a family, white jeans, honeysuckle-scented soap, houseplants with a strong will to live

thanks and love.

Do I Want To Learn How To Dougie?

We had tea at the Brown Palace yesterday with our neighbors - it was lovely.  We sipped from fine china and nibbled sandwiches without crusts.  We sat up straight.  After our tea, still dressed in our tea-drinking garb (nary a lacrosse short or Ugg in sight) and emitting a certain "we just had tea" vibe, we hopped in our Volvo wagon, loaded with reusable grocery bags and lacrosse gear, and cruised back to Suburbia to the amplified base of some song that includes the word 'booty' in it about 700 times and describes in great detail, just what the 'booty' in question should be doing.  Like it or not, these songs have become part of our family's soundtrack.  For now.

At first we felt bad about not putting our foot down more firmly when it came to language or subject matter in a song.  We tried and failed - it was too big to fight.  Then we volunteered to chaperone a dance at the high school.  While we casually conversed with teachers and other parents, all sorts of F-bombs and booties blasted from the sound system.  No one even flinched.  I thought for sure, once an administrator heard the words to "Wobble" by V.I.C., they'd race across dance floor to unplug the speakers and send everyone home to think about Shame or Guilt or something.  But they just stood there with us discussing the Honor's History assignment the kids were completing while the music played on.

I must admit, some of those songs have a great beat - you can't help but get into them (lyrics aside).  After a while, I hardly notice what they're saying and find myself cruising back from the orthodontist singing along to "Booty Wurk" by T. Pain and looking through a rear-view mirror that is shaking back and forth because the base is turned up all the way.  And yeah, when I pull into the Target lot, is that swagger I feel?  Could be.  Or I may just be excited about the new beach towels on sale.

I'm wearing this today:

Because Geraldine Saglio wore something similar.  See?

Skinny jeans, flats and a simple t-shirt will ALWAYS work - whether you're on a crowded Paris street or in your messy kitchen in Colorado.

Purple bras, on the other hand, do not always work.

Seriously, what kind of perverted camera does that?

gratitude:  accountants, sandal weather, Spring Break, hamburgers

thanks and love.

Pottery and Pinterest.

This Monday you may notice there are some nifty additions to the blog.  Last week I met with a Very Smart Computer Person and he did a lot of things on my computer while I drank coffee.  As a result of my coffee-fueled support and his html know-how, you can now email subscribe to the blog!

You can also see what I'm pinning on Pinterest.  I know, I know.  It feels like Christmas doesn't it?  But really, I truly adore Pinterest.  Hopefully, you'll like it too.  It has allowed me to zero in on what I'm drawn to in fashion and home decor especially.  Which in turn has made getting dressed in the morning so much easier.  Plus, I can more confidently shop for lamps.

And you can now link to my Facebook page which actually is pretty boring because all I seem to put on Facebook are my blog posts.  I'm making a mental note right now to try to zhush up my Facebook postings from time to time.  Currently there is a nice video Geoff recently posted of J.D. beating me in an arm wrestling contest.  Enjoy.

And that's that.  New stuff for a new week.

In case you were wondering, these are some of my most cherished possessions.

Because Spring Break week has always fallen during an incredibly busy time for Geoff's business, we are usually able to only take a couple days in the mountains for some skiing.  Of course, what with Eliza's hip surgery, skiing as a family is out of the question, so we're home for the week and I can tell the kids are overjoyed.

To add to the excitement, I'm taking them on a retro adventure to one of those pottery painting places, just like the good 'ol days.  When they were younger I loved a place that would allow my kids to mess around with art supplies and someone else had to clean up afterward.  Now, just spending a couple hours alone with them in an activity that is hard to do while texting (or snap chatting) sounds like heaven.  And I still don't have to deal with the mess.  Happy Spring Break indeed!

It's Meatless Monday and because we aren't going anywhere over break, I'm transporting us to Switzerland for dinner!  Yes, indeed, cheese fondue.  Fireside.  No passport required.  The excitement never ends, does it?

gratitude:  quiet mornings, no schedules, college basketball, Spring

thanks and love.

Au Revoir to Emmanuelle Alt, and Other Stuff.

It's Friday and my pantry stinks.  I currently have a colossal battle occurring in there to see which item will produce the most powerful aroma.  The two elements in the final match-up are some orange scented garbage bags and a sack of everything bagels.  I wish I could convey to you the incredibly strange perfume these two items are producing together.  Close your eyes an imagine what an orange car deodorizer smells like then bring some salami into the mix.  Really, it's quite something.  I fear the garbage bags my be the big loser here.  Everything bagels are going to smell regardless, and they are so very delicious that they can be forgiven.  But the orange scented garbage bags that I thought would bring a light, citrus fragrance to my kitchen have only caused every odor that occurs near the trash can to be tinged with a trace of chemical-based fruit.  Live and learn.

Today marks the final installment of WWEAW Week.  It's been fun.  If Vogue ever needs someone to handle the "suburban mom of teens, mid-forties and confused" beat, I'm all over it.

In this first shot we have Emmanuelle holding her cell phone and ear buds preparing, most likely, to contact a fellow fashionista about where to meet for drinks to discuss the latest offering from Versace.

And here I stand with the tangle of white computer cords that fill the drawer holding our take-out menus.  I'm preparing to order dinner because sometimes, if I add up how many dinners I've made over the years, ordering out is the only way to prevent a seizure.

And finally, here is Emmanuelle at her desk probably contemplating the next cover for Vogue.

And here I am at my desk contemplating the next Meatless Monday.

That brings WWEAW Week to a close.  I could sure use a sip of something sparkly and fantastic after all that.  Join me won't you?  Let's have a classic champagne cocktail this weekend.  It's easy to make.

Classic Champagne Cocktail:
Add one dash angostura bitters and a single sugar cube to the bottom of a champagne glass.  Fill with champagne and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.  So delish.  Cheers and happy Spring!

gratitude:  piles of warm laundry, stargazer lilies, white jeans, cast iron pans

thanks and love.

Urban Legends and Emmanuelle Alt Week Part Deux.

This is a true story.  Eliza and I were returning from her physical therapy appointment this morning and took our regular jaunt through the Starbucks drive-thru on our way back to school. The fact that she can down an egg and sausage sandwich plus one of those milkshakes Frappucinos in about five minutes gives me great hope that she'll always be able to fall back on competitive eating to make a living.

When it came time to pay, we were told the person in the car in front of us had paid for our order.  We were stunned.  To have a stranger do something so nice blew us away.  I had thought the whole 'paying it forward' thing was just a myth created to preserve what little faith in humanity some of us out there have.  But it really happened.  I feel like I've seen a unicorn.  Of course, I offered to pay for the car behind us.  Their order was slightly less expensive than ours, so not wanting to slow the positive energy or to take too big a bite out of the karmic pie, I shoveled over the world's largest tip to the guy in the window and drove away.

We pondered on our way to school how long had the chain been going?  Did the car in front of us start it?  Had it been going on all morning?  And then, of course, who ends it?  It has to end sometime.  Who is the person who gets their coffee paid for and just drives off?  I do hope whoever is working the Starbucks drive-thru when the chain is broken handles it in an appropriately passive/aggressive way.

There was a weird moment as we were waiting to pull out of the lot and were in line behind the car that paid for us.  Do you get out and come to their window to say thank you?  Do you honk and wave?  Do you shoot them a peace sign or a fist pump?  Eliza and I just wished them a fabulous day using our mental powers to transmit the message.  I'm sure they felt it.

There are some good people out there after all.

As promised, my week in Emmanuelle Alt style continues.  It has been easy to use her as a guide.  Here is the first look:

In this shot Emmanuelle is probably walking back to her offices.  She is holding an invitation to an exclusive fashion show and is most-likely on the phone with her assistant making sure they cover the latest collection from Chanel in the next issue of Vogue.

And here I am, walking to one of my offices (A.K.A. Whole Foods).  I am carrying my reusable grocery bags (duh) and speaking on the phone with both Eliza and J.D. telling them to stop locking each other out of the bathroom.  The resemblance is uncanny, n'est ce pas?

And here, Emmanuelle is purposefully walking across a crowded street carrying what appears to be a list of models French Vogue is considering for a major spread featuring an emerging designer.

And and in this shot, I am coming back from the mailboxes down the street.  I'm carrying a Ballard Design catalog, a Garnet Hill catalog, a Val-Pak and 75 medical bills.  My walk is also quite purposeful.

gratitude:  the nice person in front of us at Starbucks, physical therapy, a husband who will take pictures of you in a Whole Foods parking lot on his way to the airport, vintage silver pieces (slightly tarnished, please)

thanks and love.

WWEAW (What Would Emmanuelle Alt Wear?).

I think everyone needs a style muse.  Mine is  Emmanuelle Alt.  Ta-Da.

Emmanuelle Alt and I are both 45.  We have the same taste in clothing.  And we both appear to have faces that repel makeup.  Of course, that's where the similarities end because she is also Editor-in-Chief of French Vogue and lives in Paris while I am a mother and wife who attempts regular blogging and occasionally sells jewelry in suburban Denver.  There are other differences of course, but they are so obvious I needn't point them out - plus my fragile ego couldn't handle any additional comparisons.

Regardless, I adore her style and while I have always dressed in kind of a uniform, reading more about Emmanuelle Alt and the two other Voguettes (Vogue stylist Geraldine Saglio and Fashion Editor Capucine Safyurtlu), as seen here,

has really helped me settle into a look I like.  Even shopping is easier - I go straight to the colors I like; black, white, grey, perhaps some chambray thrown in for interest.  And leopard.  Can't forget the leopard.  Jeans are a requirement as well.  My point is, find a muse if you don't have one already and let them guide you fashionwise.

I like the Vouguettes' style because of its simplicity.  With my crazy hair, I find I look and feel best in simple shapes and colors.  If I had a different pate I may find other looks more appealing, but I fear taking on a bit of a Phyllis Diller vibe, so simple it is for me.  I also like a high heel.  Not too high, of course, and no platforms because that looks a little 'stripper'.  But a heel.  And don't tell me they are only for fancier occasions.  I actually handled before-school crosswalk duty in a heel and had no problem at all.  So there.

This week, I will be attempting to match outfits worn by Emmanualle Alt and the other Voguettes as precisely as possible to prove how helpful a style muse can be.  Thrilling, isn't it?  The hardest part will be not dragging my feet when it comes to doing the laundry and ending up without any black t-shirts or jeans.  Edge of your seat excitement, indeed.

Here is today's look.  First, Emmanelle as she prepares to enter a show during Paris Fashion Week:

Now me as I prepare to place the trash can at the end of the driveway.

See?  You can hardly tell a difference, can you?

On a very celebratory note, JD's lacrosse team won their indoor championship, 10 - 9!  What a great game!  Here's the team (JD is on the right, back row, in the dark shirt and grey baseball cap).

And, it's Meatless Monday again.  I have a lot of leftover Colcannon from our St. Patrick's Day dinner last night.  Basically, Colcannon is mashed potatoes with the addition of greens.  I added spinach.  I think it may be the Irish version of a salad.  Anyway, I have a ton left over so I'm thinking about a potato pancake of sorts with a veggie saute on top.  I can already hear the kids asking for more...

gratitude:  the incredible heart shown by JD and his team in the Championship (I welled up), Eliza without a cell phone, English muffins, classic Chapstick

thanks and love.

Shoes and Slainte.

I am going to buy some new shoes today.  I think.  I popped into Nordstrom Rack yesterday.  While there, hidden amongst a few pairs of shoes that must have been on the fast track to the Clearance Rack - honestly, who thought the purple, platform pumps accented by macrame and peacock feathers were going to be a hit? - I found the perfect pair of boots.  They are so freakishly discounted I can't even do the math to calculate the incredible deal I am going to enjoy, but trust me, these boots are a steal.  Of course, I do understand that buying shoes on sale has its inherent risks.

Shoe sales are exciting to me, but I've been burned before and it takes me a while before I'll admit that perhaps my purchase was ill-advised.  I enjoy an unusual pair of shoes - which makes shopping sales good for me because the stranger looks tend to become discounted quickly.  My wardrobe is so basic that shoes offer my look a bit of whimsy.  Not even sure why I need a whimsical element, but I feel the fun shoes help me look a little less 'Frau Brugger'.   Once I found a weird pair of boots that were caramel colored and sort of wrinkly.  Kind of like a footwear interpretation of a Sharpei.   I tried them on in the store and was instantly taken with their quirky look and versatile color.  After admiring them from every angle and smugly noting my smart shopping skills, I purchased those puppies (pun intended) and immediately started calculating the myriad outfits they would complement.

The first time I wore them I felt great.  The second time I wore them, I started to get that sinking feeling.  I was at the grocery store at the time walking on a tiled floor.  When I stepped with my left foot nothing happened, but when I stepped with my right there was a distinct, high-pitched knock.  Like a person clapping two pieces of wood together.   At first I thought nothing of it, then after a while I could only hear the rhythm of my own walking - step, knock, step, knock...  It made me crazy.  I walked favoring my good shoe as long as I could, but my foot started cramping up.  I had to go back to normal walking and was horrified when the woman in front of me actually turned around to see what the noise was behind her.

I kept those shoes a bit longer hoping the knocking sound was just part of the breaking in process.  It wasn't.  Finally, I ended up passing them along to Goodwill.  I considered writing an explanation warning about the sound on the bottom of the shoe, but didn't.  I just hope a cobbler finds them next.  Or someone who can't hear well.

I wore this yesterday.

See what I mean about the uniform look?  I admit I'm happiest in the basics - jewelry and shoes are my outlet.  The necklace is the Calliah from Stella & Dot.  I adore the turquoise over the charcoal color.

It's St. Patrick's Day weekend!  I love being Irish and plan to honor my heritage with pride and potatoes.  If you're looking for a celebratory beverage, I suggest adding two drops of green food coloring to any Champagne or sparkling wine - festive and classy!  And, in keeping with the theme, you may want to serve up some Irish cheddar or a salmon spread with your sparkling green beverage - one should always have a nibble on hand if imbibing.

A belated birthday wish to my charming brother, Jon.  You make us laugh and we love you so much!  I hope you have a fabulous year ahead.

gratitude:  watching the birds look for nesting sites around our house, the Positively Positive website, cinnamon in coffee, weekends

thanks and love.