After y’alls comments yesterday I feel like I need to try about forty-two different kinds of mascara. I don’t know how I’ll ever decide. But I’ll keep you posted on what I end up with and if I love it and adore it and have people stop me on the street to ask about my eyelashes.
Here’s how our week is going. Please lower your expectations.
On Monday morning we jumped right out of bed. Then on Tuesday morning we still managed to have a little spring in our step and were even ready in time to walk to school.
Yesterday morning we slept until the alarm went off. And I was in such a stupor that I walked into the kitchen, poured Caroline a bowl of Cheerios and then threw the spoon in the trash.
So basically we’re only three days in and I’ve reached a low.
Oh. And I also realized after I’d dropped her off that I forgot to pack her water bottle.
This doesn’t really bode well for the rest of the year. Or maybe I’m just having to readjust to a real schedule where we actually have to be somewhere at a certain time.
I spent most of the day running errands and ended up at Michaels. Which led to me feel completely inadequate because I see all these cute crafty-type items and think that maybe this will be the year I make some fabulous wreath for the back door or stack some faux bales of hay by the back steps with a wagon full of pumpkins, but deep inside I know it’s all lies. LIES. Because I’m more of a pay someone to make something really cute for me kind of person than a make something cute kind of person.
And even though I can find a step-by-step tutorial on Pinterest on how to make my pumpkins look like mummies or witches or preppy argyle sweaters, I tend to just pin those things as if that will make them magically appear on my porch.
So I left Michaels pretty much empty-handed. And certainly not any closer to coming up with a fall centerpiece for my dining room table. Any suggestions are appreciated.
(This should be the point in the post where you realize I really have nothing to write about if I’m talking this much about Michaels)
After I picked Caroline up from school we ran by Academy because she needed new soccer cleats since her foot basically grew two sizes over the summer. That’s not even an exaggeration.
We spent the better part of my life in the shoe aisle at Academy looking at all the various cleats. Because it’s not just about which ones feel the best, it’s about which ones look the best. And I appreciate that. I really do.
But for the love of all that is good and pure, just make a decision.
She finally decided on the pink and black Adidas. Which is when we realized they didn’t have her size. And so she ended up with some gold and white Pumas that I assured her looked “fierce” and she informed me I pronounced “Puma” the wrong way.
Why do you want to correct your mother who’s buying you new soccer cleats?
And then we bought a new pair of running shorts because that is apparently going to be her standard attire again this year.
Then I came home and took two Advil.
And that was our day.
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Sorry it still sounds like you had a blast no matter how you try to downplay it. Shopping for fierce cleats is always a good time.
Oh, I love, in a sharing the pain sort of way, that she corrected your pronunciation. Shopping with my 13 and 15 year olds has become one big grammar lesson for Mom, with them even telling me I said swoosh wrong in the Nike section.
I remind them my peace in the store is directly proportional to the amount of money spent by me. It is my only power sometimes.
Happy Thursday!
Ah, but you see, the trick is to take the two Advil BEFORE you go shopping! I feel your pain. I have a 12 yr old daughter and I’m pretty sure that in spite of the age difference she and Caroline would be best of friends. Blessings!
Oh dear, preteens are fun. We can’t speak right, breathe right, eat right. But the good news is they get over it, right in time for college. Have a great Thursday!
Midweek is always my downfall… The tiredness begins to creep in. So much so that the other night I decided that I was going ot take a nice bubble bath before climbing into bed. I started the water, turned and grabbed the bubble bath, poured a good amount in only to realize that I had the listerine in my hand. There is a definite difference between lavendar and listerine! Love hearing your many stories of your sweet Caroline!
I am the proud mother of a girl who has STRONG fashion opinions, none of which include dresses or other cute and/or girly items.
And here’s the easiest do-it-yourself autumn centerpiece: purchase a large glass vase or vessel of some kind. Go to another aisle at Michaels and purchase some faux gourds. Put them in the glass container. You did it yourself! And it’s totally foolproof: it will look great. For bonus points, buy some of those glass squashed marble thingies in an autumn color, and put them in the bottom of the vase, and an autumn placemat to put under the whole shebang. Now relax, enjoy, and go take some nerve pills.
Note to self: Start packing painkillers before shopping trips with the girls.
The Pumas do sound nice though, as far as cleats go. My 6 year old corrected my Spanish pronunciation once. I’ve had 4 years of high school Spanish and 2 years in college. I thought I was pretty solid. But apparently not. In my defense, she was using a made-up word.
I’m hoping my 9 year old was overly tired this morning because with the amount of attitude she was throwing out, it is going to be a LONG year. I hear you about the cleats. I bought her new softball cleats this spring and when she wore them to fall practice on Monday, they were too small. Unfortunately we live in a small-ish town and not many options for cleats when it is considered “out of season” playing softball in the fall. Although I have more options now when she is wearing a kids size 6 which is like a 7.5 in women’s. (!)
I thank the good Lord that my girls are now in their 20′s and we can have fun on a shopping trip. I buy lunch and it’s all good. But boy oh boy do I remember those hair-pulling clothes buying sessions…. the tears, the eye rolling, the pronouncements that ‘no way am I gonna wear that!’, the times we ended up with nothing. My condolences to you and all the other Mom’s out there who are dealing with girls and their shoes and clothes. God knows it ain’t easy!
I have one 3rd grade twin that wants to wear running shorts every day. Occasionally I get her to wear some jean shorts and a shirt that does not involve some kind of sport.
The other twin told me yesterday after I asked her to change out of her frilly, lacy skirt to play outside, “I GUESS I’ll go put on some jean shorts. I really need a jean skirt. But I need it to be a JEANS skirt for times like these.”
centerpieces are way overrated. who started that trend anyway?
I know exactly how you feel. I beyond tired and I know the end is about 176 days away. Not that I’m counting. Oh don’t feel bad I’ve thrown plenty of spoons away in the morning or evening, which ever you prefer.
Husband went to buy our 8th grader his cleats, because of course the ones we bought in the spring for soccer now no longer fit. A size and half -foots now bigger than Dads.
Anyway it took about 3hours. When they finally checked out the manger realized it was their fault and gave them 15% off. And they were on sale another 20% off.
How awesome is that??
With soccer, the brighter the better and it seems to be the goal NOT to match. My oldest has yellow/white/teal cleats and my youngest has neon orange/white/royal blue cleats. Their uniforms are maroon and navy. Nice. The good news is that I can always spot them on the field. I just look for the blinding shoes.
Why can’t cleats come in black?Just black? And everyone wears them?
One youth league here everyone wear’s blue and white reversible jerseys, you know which color you are supposed to show and they get passed down and sold at garage sales and all is right with the world….at least in soccer land.
Shopping with kids. Pass the box of wine. Help me.
But I do remember a trip to Sears..yes, Sears, with my mom and sister to buy dresses for school….and the fitting room was full of mom’s and daughters all doing the same thing. I am sure it was not pretty.
I remember shopping with my mom and little sister – oh yes, the tears and the drama. I thought my mom knew NOTHING about teenage fashion. Now my sister gets that pleasure with her two daughters. I have a boy – downside, I shop by myself – upside, he wears whatever I buy. Now either he REALLY trusts my judgement, or he just doesn’t care. I will tell myself it is the first, even though I know it’s the second……..lol…
Have you seen the commercial where they mom buys the tennis shoes her daughter loves? It says victory in big letters and there is confetti flying every where and the mom is so proud! I think of you every time I see that commercial and smile! Love you and hope you have a great school year.
I love you! Such a hilarious post. The spoon in the trash started my first bout of laughing out loud. My co-worker is probably even more thankful I am leaving at 12:00 today after all that.
I always tell people that my skill is finding people to pay to make the cute things I find on the internet.
We are so boring and make our daughter buy plain black and white soccer cleats so that they can be passed down to her brothers for baseball. Feel free to use that information if Caroline gives you grief over cleats again.
I Pin and Pin and Pin….do I ever make any of it? No, but I pretend just like you.
If I had a little girl I’d be all over the cute cleats! With boys, they were black and white.
I have thrown away spoons and put ice cream in the cabinet where the bowls go. You are not alone!
My 4 year old already corrects her friends when they say something wrong. You are giving me a glimpse into my future!
I loathe shopping of ANY kind. If it weren’t for catalogs and and the wonderful Internet I’d be walking around naked. I seriously cannot remember the last time I was in a store. If I could give up eating I wouldn’t even go to the grocery store.
Here’s what I do for my October table. I buy one big pumpkin and some pretty gourds. I pick up some nice looking Autumn leaves from the street. (I do wipe them off but you can buy paper ones — at Michaels.) Scatter artfully around the pumpkins. Arrange small 2-3 inch orange candles around. If I’m having a company I go in my backyard and cut some pretty green vines and arrange around the pumpkin for a natural look. Ta Da! So easy and looks so good I’ve been making the same centerpiece since 1970! Yes, I’m boring that way.
Hope you chased that advil with a gin & tonic.
I’m like you…I read all these DIY blogs, and where everyone else says “That’s cute…I could MAKE that”, I say “That’s really cute…why not BUY it instead?!”
You always crack me up!! Anyway, I am day late but I use Blink mascara. It doesn’t help so much on volume but it does help with length. But the most amazing thing about it is IT DOES NOT SMEAR OR LEAVE RACCOON EYES. They “tube” your lashes and so all day no matter what you do it stays in place and then when you shower or wash your face all you do is gently wipe your eyes with warm water and the “tubes” fall off. Great for sensitive eyes too! I don’t think I can ever go back to any other kind. And I have used EVERY. SINGLE. BRAND. it seems!! You can order it online or get it at Sephora!
Oh my gosh-the making of the stuff…no way. Read an article today on how to make a Frosty at home. Why would you want to do that? Easiest wreath idea I’ve seen-purchase already decorated (of course) Fall wreath, add large candle in the center of it. Perhaps even put candle in a glass hurricane if feeling extra creative. Presto, done!
I too am more of a “pay somebody to make me something cute”. I am disgusted by those blogs that have the gorgeous, crafty, homemade, backyard birthday parties. Those blogs make me feel bad about myself. Your blog makes me smile
Easiest Fall centerpiece is a vase of dried cotton stalks with the cotton bolls. Not too colorful but different and very Fall.