How We Handle Filling Our Stockings
After listening to a radio program on Christmas Traditions, featuring blogger Trish Berg, I thought to re-run this.
Inspired by Jenn, who has been blogging about Christmas on the cheap, it suddenly occurs to me that we have a fabulous tradition that must be shared with as many people as possible:
Drawing Names For Stockings
This is for when the kids are all old enough to start helping with the shopping, although we started before the youngest was in elementary school. Just match the teams up carefully, so nobody is shopping with someone who is shopping for them.
Draw names from a hat and form shopping teams. Each person gets a $10 bill; that is all that may be spent on the entire contents of the stocking for the person they are shopping for. Any change left is also put into the stocking. Everyone shops at the same time, at the same store, carefully avoiding one another, of course. We choose Fred Meyer, they have a wide range of items including clothing and groceries.
BTW, this book has a corny name, but it looks like alot of fun!
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My Three Sions: Introversion, Extroversion, and Depression
Last night I went to bed with a headache … and still had it when I got up. While I am no longer hurting, I am not necessarily feeling “sharp”; hence, it remains to be seen whether I will be able to compose a coherent post. At least the corny title is worth the price of admission …
Contributing to the beauty of blogging is the ease with which you can ride along my thought train with me:
- drwende’s Happiness, Humiliation and Hue
- and Tops! What are they GOOD for?
- wikipedia: extraversion and introversion
Application points:
- Technically I’m an ambivert: equally extraverted and introverted. More realistically, I’m a shy extravert.
- Bloggers seem to skew to the intro-.
- Sad, but true: Washington is one of the five most introverted states, and Idaho’s not far behind.
- “Talk therapy” is one of the treatments for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but nobody wants to talk about it — they just want to sell you vitamins or special lighting.
- I actively desire for my wardrobe to convey both authority and approachability.
In terms of color, authority is associated with high contrast color schemes and approachability with brights. How do you balance the two in your wardrobe?
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Wardrobe Therapy Week One, Part Two
I should be working on tops this week. Instead, I’m still working on my interview. But I did buy a pink oxford button-front shirt just like my white one that I love (that has darts in exactly the right place!), brand new, for $5 (at Spokane Discount, which sells Costco’s reject merchandise).
Now, on to the interview:
How You Live & the People Around You
- If there were a uniform for where you spend most of your time, what would it be? Nicer jeans than I can afford. Boots, driving mocs, or heels. Killer coat. If you have a great coat, what difference does it make what’s under it? Except in downtown Spokane, that’s always stellar too.
- If there were a uniform for where you spend your leisure, what would it be? Mostly the same. But “outdoor leisure” is a significant presence here too.
- What do you like best about the prevailing style where you are? Honestly, the ladies are mostly very presentable, a joy to look out, with a gracious natural friendliness too.
- What frustrates you? Personally? Having to choose between my trench, which fits well over a sweater or top, and wearing a blazer. In others? Fleece worn as a sport coat. Black lace worn as day-wear.
- Is there another place (one you’ve lived, visited, heard about, whatever) that better captures your idea of style? Actually, yes. Italy. Because they have more stylish functional shoes. But here is not bad.
- Construct a quick pie chart of the occasions for which you dress. Mine hasn’t really changed.
Your Wardrobe
- In three bullet points, what is the problem with your wardrobe?
Completely lacking street-length dresses, at least any that I feel like really work for me. I seriously almost skipped a wedding this summer …
Also missing: winter casual trouser to wear with flat boots. Last year’s plaid wool-blend pair just doesn’t fit to flatter.
Several items which could be called Torture Devices; pieces I love, except they really need a bit of alteration.
- If your wardrobe could speak, what would it say is the problem?
“You’re always too busy talking to your friends about me to really do anything with me. Perhaps it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.”
- What one thing do you want your wardrobe to do more of?
Win friends and influence people. Oops! That’s two.
- What do you want people to say about your look?
That it works for me. And that they would like a look that worked equally well for them.
Phew! That’s done! Now, on a personal note, this is the final weekend of Peter Pan. Sad, but true. And I’m sorta looking forward to a wee bit more room in my schedule.
What’s up with you these days?
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A Sad Little History
Speaking of conversations, you may have noticed that the comments aren’t always about the topic of the post. Like in this previous post, where the comments ended up being primarily about the blog girl talk (which, by the way, has no comment form, a blog characteristic I am not fond of).
As I was reading through their very thorough treatment of the subject of modesty, I came across this statement:
Now let me set your mind at ease. Adorning ourselves in “respectable apparel” doesn’t mean we must restrict ourselves exclusively to cheap, out of style, unattractive clothing. Paul is not saying that gold or pearls or braiding are forbidden. In fact, you will find other places in Scripture where godly women wore fine clothing and jewelry.
The reason this post is called a A Sad Little History is because when I first became a Christian, as a young mom in my 20s, I immediately pulled out all my out of style clothing and began wearing it again! Where did I get the idea that a Christian must necessarily convey a dowdy appearance?
The good news is that God isn’t like that.
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Maybe I’m an Impressionist
At Ellem’s request, I am posting a picture of my final painting from my beginning watercolor class. Recognize the image?
(Not like a person who does impressions. lol)
No. What I mean is a visual simplifier, like the impressionists who were accused of not finishing their paintings. At least that’s what my watercolor teacher told me last week, after he had us paint what to me seemed a pretty detailed colored landscape in under two hours.
Tonight I have my final in the class; we will have 2 1/2 hours to complete both a black and white painting and one in color. In the weeks leading up to the final, our most challenging assignment was finding “paintable subjects”. When I showed him a photo of one of my daughters that I really wanted to paint, he took one look at it and said “no way!”
Well, this week I painted it anyway. In sepia. In one hour. And if you lay it on the table and look at it upside down from 5 feet away, it is clear who is pictured!
Anyway, while this painting scenario had a good outcome, another left me rather frustrated. Let’s just say that Saturday was a long day of set painting where no matter what two colors I mixed together, the result was purple. Then I got home and watched an old movie where the sets were so hokey they could scarcely even be called impressionistic! Why is it necessary for us to work our tails off on so many overwhelming details, when professionals can just paint a styrofoam cone green and call it a tree?
Which is the same kind of frustration I get when told I must wear lipstick or accessories. Or when I think I should do more fun “extras” in the children’s program I administrate. I really just want the basics. Just the basics, done right.
Now, more than ever, I’m convinced this is a matter of being either a big-picture (global) thinker or a detail (analytical) person. Or maybe it’s right brain/left brain. I’m left brain global. Which are you?
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Slow Down and Read
Believe it or not, I took off for Seattle in such a big hurry that I didn’t even grab a book. Not even my Bible. (That would be even more embarrassing if it weren’t for the fact that a skinny little New Testament is a permanent resident of my purse.) I did take a little stack of bills, thereby averting the disaster that late fees can pile on top of emergencies like these. And I took my ipod, but forgot about it most of the time.
I found the quiet (in my head) rather therapeutic.
However, if I had thought of it, I would definitely have taken Brenda Kinsel’s Fashion Makeover: 30 Days to Diva Style!
In the meantime, blog reading (I’m trying to get caught up on my blog-reading, but if I missed your fall wardrobe post, please send me the link):
- Damselfly’s What I’d Wear Wednesday Fall post. Note from me: magenta - yes!
- Is This Modest? has introduced Quick Reviews, where you can comment on the modesty of specific outfits.
And Yikes! Has the weather turned suddenly in your neck of the woods? It’s been wool all week for me.
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Lessons from Our Hospital Stay
As the days spent praying and waiting ran together, and priorities shifted into focus, a few concepts worth sharing emerged:
- Staying in the hospital is not what I thought. Not at all. If you want your loved one to be cared for with any urgency at all, someone had better be there to keep an eye on things. I left the room for 20 minutes, to visit the cash machine after my daughter left; when my son went for the call button - remember, he can’t turn his head at all - it slipped off the bed AND he knocked a water over! Thankfully, he could reach his cell phone and call me, since there was no way for him to reach a nurse. I could give you lots more reasons and examples of why it’s best to be there, but what have your experiences been?
- Hospital rooms are cold. Note to self: if you ever have to spend time hanging out in a hospital room, no matter what time of year it is, take a cashmere sweater, even if it’s a pullover. Temperature in the room averaged 66 or 67 degrees. Wearing jeans, cotton/silk/cashmere blend t-shirt, and a cotton zip-up sweatshirt, I was still cold. Additional note to self: you wanted another cashmere cardigan for your trip to Italy, just spend the money and get it!
Other than that, I am happy with alot of my fall wardrobe. I didn’t take much time to pack; it was pretty much: jeans, shorts, t-shirt, t-shirt, t-shirt. And sweatshirt. More on fall wardrobe to come though, as I see that was supposed to be this week’s comeback topic. Drop me a line if you are doing a fall wardrobe post this week.
Oh, and having hair that I could just wash and wear was helpful too.
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An Update for My Praying Friends
… and all the rest of you who care. 
Thank you so much for all the well wishes! You have truly been an encouragement! I am back home now, still feeling under the weather myself, and attempting to get caught up as time allows.
My son:
- is also home from the hospital. Thankfully, he is able to be at his dad’s home, which is a couple of hours closer to the hospital and where his step-mom is a registered nurse. She is taking the rest of the week off work to care for him.
- has his neck immobilized with a halo brace, which is to be worn for three months. After removal, his neck muscles will not be accustomed to supporting his head, so further rehabilation will be needed. Here’s one guy’s comments on his own time spent in the halo.
- doesn’t appear to have any other neurological issues or injuries, other than a little numbness in some of his fingers. Most likely that will go away.
- is likely in for a very rough week, both physically and emotionally: adjusting to being in the halo and being at home, trying not to overdo it, managing the pain, and so on.
We are so thankful that he is still with us, and he has a good chance for a complete recovery. In the interest of saving myself some emailing, I will try to post updates here. Feel free to ask questions too.
Hopefully, I’ll be back with some fashion and makeover posts before long. But one thing has changed: I am not going to take the time to go back in for an adjustment to my hair cut. No time! I’ll just wait until my next scheduled appointment, take the picture with me, and say, “like this, but off the collar”.
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Eat Fat, Stay Thin
Another blast-from-the-past post. 
The following statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration:
Yesterday I was at the grocery outlet, buying alot of ice cream, when the subject of fat came up. Just in case you think I am joking when I talk about eating fat (something I have been known to do in person, although this is the first time I’ve brought it up here), I am not. Admittedly, my weight hasn’t been my biggest struggle in life, however, I am now a firm believer in adding fat, rather than restricting it, for weight loss. Natural, healthy fat seems to favor fat-burning.
Click here to read an e-interview of Sally Fallon, author of my favorite cookbook, Nourishing Traditions.
This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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Blogging My Own Comeback: The Before Pictures
After the input started coming in on this post, I mentioned to my husband that I had never in my life before thought a moment about needing to correct for having a long face, to which he replied that when he looked at these pictures, they didn’t look to him like my face. I have since adjusted the sizing.
We all hate the typical “makeover mugshot” before photos, right?
So I tried to smile for these and pose as naturally as possible. I’m wearing normal daily makeup. I’m not going to be taking modeling classes between now and the end of this project, and all the photos will be taken by one family member or another. These are my reading glasses.
I forgot my jewelry. Normally, there’s a rather unique anniversary ring keeping my wedding band company. And I haven’t had a manicure or a pedicure for several weeks (more about that week after next according the Comeback Calendar). Neither can I see well enough to pluck my eyebrows properly.
Today’s weight: 133 lbs. (Better than I was expecting.)
This is the moment for honesty. Do you have suggestions?
(Just for fun: Christopher Hopkins’ Makeover Gallery and Good Housekeeping Look Five Years Younger Makeovers.)
