Author: Big Mama

Edition 35: Fashion Friday, the great and mighty purse

I’m going to make a confession.

As much as I care about other aspects of fashion, I don’t really care about purses. Now before you start in on me for talking crazy talk, let me explain.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate a good purse because I do.

In fact, the Christmas I was fifteen will go down in history as one of my favorite Christmases ever because it was the year I got my very first Dooney and Burke purse. In hunter green.

Oh 1986. You were so funny with your hunter green and navy accessories.

Since that time I have carried all manner of handbags, ranging from expensive designer bags to inexpensive knock-offs.

Here’s the truth, I can’t really tell the difference.

I had this beautiful Fendi bag when I was in college and it began to fall apart after a fairly short amount of time. So I marched myself and my cool bag into the Fendi store and explained my dilemma only to be told that “the Fendi purse isn’t for everyday use”.

Well sure.

Why would I expect a fine Italian leather handbag to hold up better than the $50.00 Liz Claiborne purse I carried throughout most of junior high?

After my Fendi experience, any real love I had for a specific purse kind of died. Oh sure, I went through a period in the mid-90’s where I had to have the Kate Spade black microfiber purse shaped like a box, but I’ve never been a girl who cares all that much about a new handbag purchase.

Then, last fall, I saw this gorgeous purse by Kate Spade. It was this gorgeous chocolate brown suede with hot pink lining.

When I saw it, I felt like a girl of fifteen again.

However, it was slightly above what I’m willing to pay for a purse that will inevitably become filled with a mixture of animal cracker crumbs, grape juice and hand sanitizer.

And really, I don’t know why I’m telling y’all all this other than to lead into today’s question.

1. Christine asks: “I need fashion help. I need a new purse. I’m very particular about my purse, probably because it’s the one thing I wear every single day. I’m willing to spend about $100. Like a good pair of shoes, I’ll keep a handbag for awhile. But I find myself going back to this year’s version of the same boring black leather bag over and over again. My habit, generally, is to buy a nice bag and carry it thru all seasons as opposed to cheap bags that I rotate out as they fall apart and/or are out of season. Any suggestions?

Well now that you know my purse history, you may decide that I’m not the best person to be doling out advice on purses.

And you’d probably be right.

However, I did find a couple of things that are in your price range that I think are really cute.

I love this braided-leather strap hobo bag and it’s on sale.

I also like the giraffe-print hobo.

Here is a brown woven bag and a fun ethnic print hobo bag.

Honestly, it’s not easy to find purses online. Most of the things I found were either $20.00 or $400.00 with not a lot of in between. Your best bet may be to head to TJ Maxx and look around. I’ve seen some really great purses there for about half the price.

What about y’all? Have you seen any cute bags lately? Do you switch out your purse according to the season or just carry the same one all year round?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Or at least I would like to know.

Y’all have a great Friday!
No substitute for healthy living

I won’t depress y’all and tell you that P is down another four pounds since Monday.

Personally, I consoled myself by eating some chocolate chip cookie dough at Gulley’s house yesterday.

Late Monday night, I searched the internet for some low-fat, healthy recipes because a person can only eat so many grilled chicken salads before the sight of a lettuce leaf activates your gag reflex.

Or maybe that’s just me.

Funny how it never happens with brownies.

Anyway, the next day I headed to HEB with a grocery list full of words like “fruit”, “baked chips”, and “Skinny Cow”.

When I got home, P came out to the car to help me unload groceries. Normally, this is a happy time because it’s like the York Peppermint Pattie fairy has come to visit and brought her friends, Hostess Powdered Donette and Bluebell Homemade Vanilla.

Oh, but not this time.

P glanced in one of the grocery bags and looked visibly disturbed as he asked, “Are these Egg Beaters?”

Yes. Yes they are.

But don’t use all your energy getting excited about the egg substitute because wait until you see the Guiltless Gourmet baked blue corn chips and the Orville Redenbacher Taste-Free popcorn!

I actually bought the Egg Beaters because I found a recipe on the Cooking Light website that looked pretty good and thought I’d give it a whirl.

And you know what?

We all loved it, so I thought I’d pass it along. I made it for dinner, but it would be great for breakfast or brunch.

It would also be really good with a side of Baked French Toast Casserole, however that probably defeats the point.

Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche
from Cooking Light

1 1/2 cups egg substitute
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat extra sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (16 oz.) carton fat-free cottage cheese
Cooking spray
4 cups sliced zucchini
2 cups diced potato
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 (8oz.) package sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 400. Beat egg substitute and eggs in a large bowl. Add 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, 3/4 cup Jack cheese, milk, flour, baking powder, salt and cottage cheese.

(P had no idea it contained cottage cheese. I feel certain he would have refused to eat it, purely on principle, had he known. A man has his limits.)

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with cooking spray. Add potatoes and onions.

Cook for about ten minutes or until potatoes start to become tender. Add zucchini, bell pepper and mushrooms. Saute for about 5 more minutes.

(I think I needed a bigger skillet. If anyone from Calphalon is reading this, feel free to hook me up.)

Add zucchini mixture and parsley to egg mixture. Pour mixture into a 3-quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Top with the remaining 3/4 cup cheddar and 3/4 cup Jack cheese. Arrange tomato slices over cheese. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 and bake for 35 minutes or until lightly browned and set.

It really is good and, if you’re like P, it might even cause you to lose four pounds in two days.

But probably not.
I’ve got the kindergarten blues

About two weeks ago I got my hair cut and, for once, I actually liked it from the moment I walked out of the salon, which practically never happens.

Well, I say I liked it. I liked the haircut. I wasn’t so crazy about the way my hairdresser curled my bangs under with a curling iron.

It was a styling error.

But my haircut isn’t the point.

While she was cutting my hair, she asked me about Caroline, specifically how I discipline Caroline when she acts up or does something wrong.

And here’s what I said, “Lately I haven’t had to discipline her that much. The year she was three was really hard because she tested me on everything, but NOW THAT SHE’S ALMOST FIVE I rarely have to discipline her. She knows I’m serious when I give her a look or get a certain tone in my voice and she’ll usually do whatever I’ve asked her to do.”

A few days later that statement proved to be a lesson in irony.

It’s like I opened the vault of child-rearing fate and yelled “THIS WHOLE THING IS SO EASY! I HAVE FIGURED IT ALL OUT!”

Big mistake.

The last two weeks have been filled with more meltdowns and drama than an episode of “The Bachelor”.

In fact, at one point last week, I put her in timeout and when I went in her room I began to explain to her that Mama is the boss and she can’t talk back to me. She looked at me and said, “If you say you’re the boss one more time, I’m going to get myself so worked up that I don’t know what I’ll do.”

At which point I sent a flurry of prayers upwards to heaven in the hope that God will sustain me for the next twenty years.

I began to countdown the days until school starts on the calendar because every day ended with me feeling so tired and frustrated from fighting one battle after another ALL DAY LONG.

Then, the night before last, I was programming our DVR to record various shows throughout the week. At that moment, it dawned on me that in a few weeks Caroline will start Kindergarten. For the last five years, as our tastes have graduated from “Sesame Street” to “Pinky Dinky Doo” to “Tom & Jerry”, the majority of our mornings have been spent snuggling on the couch watching T.V. together before we start our day. And now we’re about to enter into the world of schedules and alarm clocks.

Mornings that will often consist of “NO YOU CANNOT WEAR THAT AND HURRY UP OR WE’LL BE LATE!”

It’s not like I haven’t known this was coming. I’ve been aware of Kindergarten since the day I brought her home from the hospital, but its never loomed on the horizon like it does at this moment.

And as the full realization of that hit me the other night, something inside me began to ache more than a little. I’m not ready to send her off to a big wide world where she’ll carry her own lunch tray and pick out what kind of milk she wants. Of course she doesn’t like milk, but that’s not the point.

She’s ready. I know she’s ready. It’s evident in everything she does these days; from her fierce independence to the way she breezed through the workbook I bought filled with exercises called Kindergarten basics. She is my social butterfly and she’s ready to fly.

And I have to let her.

Then yesterday, in the midst of my emotional “Sunrise, Sunset” breakdown, she woke up congested with a low-grade fever. She was operating at about half of her usual energy level and was content to just cuddle up with me in bed where we spent most of the day watching movies and playing Candyland. In spite of the fact that she didn’t feel great, it was one of the best days we’ve had in weeks.

We were both content to just be in that moment, to enjoy each other and a day filled with just the two of us. No errands to run, no place we had to be, no pressure to find an activity.

I felt like it was God’s little gift to me, to give us a reason to slow down and just be still for a moment before Kindergarten comes to call.
Beauty secrets

I kind of got the impression from the 100+ comments on my post about my Nanny’s birthday party, that y’all are interested in two critical pieces of information.

1. What is Nanny’s skincare regimen and has she made some sort of lucrative deal with God? And if so, how can you get in on that action?

2. What does that cat eat and does it include a growth hormone cocktail?

I can’t help y’all with the cat. It’s a Persian and it consists primarily of fur. If I had to guess, I’d say that if you shaved it bald it would look like a ferret.

It would also quit hacking up hairballs.

But Nanny read all your comments and has agreed to share her skincare secrets. However, I feel compelled to let you know that you can rest assured she has withheld some piece of information in here somewhere because she never gives away all her secrets.

It’s like the recipes for her cinnamon cake or her fudge. I can come close to duplicating them, but something is still missing.

This is the email that Nanny sent me (cut and pasted word for word):

“My complexion care began at an early age – like when I was about 13. We didn’t have clothes dryers back in those days so we had miles of clothes lines where we hung the wash out to dry. Maybe it had something to do with my growing taller, but it became my turn to hang the laundry out to dry.

Now, the wash consisted of tons clothes and sheets (so many that I still have nightmares about them). I feel certain that is why I hate Mondays to this day. Everyone knew that Mondays were ‘wash day’.

I say that to say this: My Mama who had the most beautiful skin in Texas allowed absolutely no sun to come in contact with her baby’s precious skin—-ever! Bonnets were worn from birth forward. Matter of fact, all girl babies were probably born wearing them.

However, she did try to train me in the sharing of chores with my siblings. So, there I went with a basket of freshly washed clothes and sheets. I had to wear a big bonnet with ‘slate’ that extended at least 12 inches out from my face. Not one ray of sunshine was permitted on my face.

Beyond the bonnet, I was required to wear long stockings pulled up on my arms all the way to my shoulders. These ‘arm’ stockings were pinned to my blouse along the shoulder seams.

My skin never had a freckle – much less a tan. I never learned to swim – same reason, no sun! To this day I am terribly afraid of the water. However, I called my daughters bluff by ‘teaching’ them both how to swim just by coaching from the sidelines.

But, that is another story, and I won’t digress further – as my granddaughter, Big Mama, tends to do.

As I mentioned before, my Mother had gorgeous skin so she taught me proper skincare. No soap (too drying) – I think Witch Hazel (an herb or shrub of some sort I think) ointment cleaned and was a good night cream. No moisturizer, just powder when I was a teenager.

Later she introduced me to Ponds cream. Yes, it has been around a long time, and it is still good.

By the time I was a senior in high school, a line of makeup came out called Luziers. I had everything a girl at that time could ever want in order to look good and take care of her skin. I used it for years while my girls were growing up.

Whenever I was running late, and friends would ask where I was, Big Bob got a kick out of saying, “Oh, she’s still home sitting in front of the mirror fighting with ‘them’ Luziers.” He could be such a smart aleck sometimes!

Sometime during the late 50’s or early ’60’s, someone introduced me to Avon products. It was nice to have sales and delivery right to to your home.

Through the years, I have tried various brands of this and that. Currently, I am using Abolene cleansing cream, Oil of Olay intensive night cream ($9 at Walgreens), sometimes EB5 as advertised by Penneys, Loreal foundation.

The one big extravagance that I adopted thirty years ago is Alexandra de Markoff daytime moisturizer. It is expensive but one bottle lasts forever and is worth its weight in gold.

If I stay in a dry climate for 3-4 weeks, I come home and keep my skin covered in Vaseline as much as possible. A little uncomfortable – but again, it can work magic.”

Can I just laugh about her reference to staying in a “dry climate”? She lives in Beaumont, TX. Everywhere else in the world is considered a “dry climate” compared to Beaumont, including Houston.

I can attest to the generous use of Abolene cleansing cream. It is one of the smells of my childhood. Any night I spent with Nanny ended with us watching Johnny Carson while she coated her face with Abolene and then wiped it off with a soft cloth.

She was also a pioneer of a product that’s now called Frownies, although I believe in those days they were called Wings.

Or maybe I just called them Wings because when I tried just now to Google “Wings” all that came up was a list of feminine products.

I never understood why someone would sleep with something pasted on their forehead, but now that I wake up with eight different creases in my forehead every morning, it seems a perfectly logical thing to do.

So there you have it. How to look fab at 90.

Of course I’ll also need a time machine to erase all the summers I spent baking in the sun.

There are some things that even Abolene can’t wash away.
A very special Saturday edition of Fashion Friday

What? Fashion Friday on a Saturday?

That’s just crazy.

Every now and then I like to shake things up a bit.

Actually, that’s not true at all. I really don’t like to shake things up. I like for them to remain exactly the same. Change makes me nervous.

However, I didn’t get to these questions yesterday and I felt the pressure to answer them in a timely manner.

Total sidenote. P just asked me what I was working on and I explained that I’m finishing up a Fashion Friday to post tomorrow even though it’s Saturday. His eyes got big and he said, “YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL”.

I’m fairly certain he is mocking me.

Anyway, I fell off the Fashion Friday wagon back in June and failed to answer several reader questions in a timely manner. I mean it doesn’t do anyone any good for me to tell them what they should have worn to a party that happened three weeks ago. It could create lingering regret.

Kind of like the time(s) in college when I wore cowboy boots with shorts.

But at least I can say I did it before Britney.

Of course, that’s small consolation.

So, as part of my resolve for timeliness, I am answering a couple of questions today.

Here it goes.

1. Rena asks: “I tried on a pair of the modern wide-legged trouser jeans and they were $80. They were great. But I was willing to wait and try elsewhere. Old Navy had some on clearance for only $16.99. I figured I need somewhere in between the price/quality of the two I tried that day.

So I looked online and found some at Target, then I went to Gap. And I got the pair from there. They were $69.00. BUT….they are long. I know they are supposed to have length to them, but these are LONG.

Do I try a few others and see if the length will vary? Of course, that could be better or worse in price. But I do LOVE this pair! I could have them hemmed a bit, but do you think that would perhaps alter the look?”

Okay, you may be asking the wrong person because my gut reaction is to tell you to return the jeans from Gap, go spend the extra $11.00 and get the first pair you tried on and loved.

However, you may now be madly in love with the Gap jeans and totally over the first pair. It happens.

Gap jeans are always long, unless they are specifically made in a varying lengths. My advice is to go get them hemmed to a length that will work better for your wardrobe.

BUT keep these important factors in mind. Are you going to dry them in the dryer or hang them to dry? I personally believe that all jeans should be hung to dry unless it is a dire situation and you need your jeans in an hour. If you’re a dryer kind of person, then wash and dry them BEFORE you take them to a tailor so that you can factor in how much they will shrink.

Also, find a tailor that understands that you want them hemmed using the original hem. Trust me, this is important and if they don’t know what you’re talking about, take your beloved jeans and get out of there. I’m not kidding.

Otherwise you may end up with a hem with bright gold thread. I know of what I speak.

2. Raquel asks: “My husband and I were invited to his boss’s 50th bday party it is at a very swanky place, my husband has been there for work functions but I have not. HELP what should I wear? I am a sahm of 4 kids (1,4,5,10) and I never dress up ever! I am plus-sized and am not too picky other than I don’t wear sleeveless so if it sleeveless, or tank, spaghetti I need to wear something over it. I normally shop online or at Lane Bryant. My favorite color to wear is black.”

Okay, I searched the world wide web for some options for you and found several things that might work depending on your style and preference. Also, for the record, it is close to impossible to find a dress with sleeves these days. Who knew?

I think this chocolate brown dress is really pretty and different from just a basic black dress.

Normally, I’m not a fan of navy but this silk wrap dress in navy is really pretty and I think it would look great accessorized with some silver strappy sandals and silver jewelry.

Not everyone is a fan of the style and may accuse me of posting a muu-muu, but I really like this beaded neck trapeze dress. I think the beaded neckline is so pretty, plus think how comfortable it would be.

Although I realize your husband’s boss’s birthday party may not be the time to focus on comfort.

Last of all, I found this sleeveless knee-length, black sheath dress . It’s basic. It’s black. It’s timeless.

The good news is you could wear it forever and dress it up and down with various accessories. The bad news is it might seem boring. Personally, I am a fan of the basic black dress. I have one in my closet and it has been with me through countless fashion emergencies.

And I also found this chiffon wrap with satin trim or this two-tone wrap in blue. Either one would look great with a basic black dress.

Hope y’all have a great time on your big night o’ fun.

And that’s all I have for today.

Go enjoy your Saturday!
Edition 34: Fashion Friday, the guide to stunning family photos

Several years ago, we were at Mimi and Bops’ house for Thanksgiving. This was back when they still lived in Houston and I hadn’t yet used my child to lure them to San Antonio.

I am shameless when it comes to the thought of free baby-sitting.

Anyway, Caroline was a little over a year old and we decided we should all take a family portrait after Thanksgiving lunch since we’d all be together.

And I’m playing fast and loose with the term “portrait” seeing as how there was no professional photographer involved, but rather my aunt and her digital point-and-shoot camera.

At some point in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we decided (actually, I think I decided, but I’m trying to pass the blame) that we should all wear some sort of white shirt with jeans. I think I had seen this look on someone else’s Christmas card and decided to rip it off.

Here’s the problem. All of us have dark hair and dark eyes. The white shirts made us look like a band of swarthy pirates who had just raided a Gap store.

In short, it was a terrible picture.

Needless to say, it did not make the Christmas card cut.

About two years later, we decided to try it again with the benefit of wisdom and experience of family photos gone wrong.

My talented friend AJ from Hollimon Photography took the picture, which was definitely about a million and a half steps up from my aunt with her Kodak digital camera, plus we planned for everyone to wear various shades of olive green, red, and cream with jeans.

It was an infinitely better picture, except for the fact that I was still wearing braces on my teeth at the time and now every time I look at it all I see is a dark reminder of my orthodontia horror.

But at least we don’t look like pirates.

Anyway, I got an email from a reader named Amy who is about to have a family portrait taken.

Here is Amy’s question:

“I am mom to a 3 month old and a 2 1/2 yr old. My husband and I are crazy enough to go and get our whole family photographed by fancy schmancy people in August. We were told to all wear light blue (we are fair people, blond and blue eyed). My issue is I am not sure where to find a light blue sundress with no patterns or prints on it.I have been searching the internet and not finding anything. I was wondering if you could help me?”

Oh Amy.

Today is your lucky day because either you will benefit from my obsessive compulsiveness or you will be extremely frightened by the fact that I’m going to give you more advice than you really wanted about your upcoming family photo.

After I read your question, I decided to consult my friend Jen of Sugar Photography , who was voted Dallas’ favorite family photographer. Technically, I’ve never actually met Jen in person, but I occasionally spend more than several minutes a day looking at all the incredible photos she takes.

She has a gift.

And that is the understatement of the year.

So, I spent a little bit of time looking for a blue sundress online and then decided to email Jen and ask her professional opinion about what your family should wear. Blue sundresses are hard to find, by the way. Plus, if a light blue sundress isn’t something you’d normally wear, then why wear it in a family photo that will hang in your home for years to come?

And here’s the best part of all, Jen didn’t just give me some advice, she actually gave links to clothing suggestions. That is just PURE GOLD, my friends.

The jackpot, if you will.

Here’s what Jennifer had to say:

“I tell my families to choose a pallet of 3-4 complimentary colors and pull from that when dressing the family. Think textures, layers, and bold bright colors.

If I were to dress my dream family, they would wear the following:

Mom – something like this from Anthropologie with a chunky turquoise or gold necklace.

Or maybe something like this top in a berry color and these pants with wedge heels.

Dad – a shirt similar to this shirt from Boden in blue and brown stripes, with chocolate linen pants, and flip-flops.

Daughter – something like this dress from the Tea Collection.

Son – something like these shorts and this shirt from the Tea Collection.

Also-in answer to your very specific questions (that I seem to have skipped right over in my rush to buy imaginary clothes at Anthropologie and Tea)…

Definitely vary the shades of blue. From navy to aqua to very pale blue-there are so many shades. I’d add a contrasting color (chocolate brown?) and white for accent (white linen pants for mom, white undershirts peeking through for husband and any little boys). I would definitely avoid finding the exact same shade of blue for every member of the family. People will walk right past their framed portrait…you want to make it interesting and eye catching, use layers and textures to draw the eye in show off their personalities.

Most of all-have fun with it!”

See how great Jen is?

If you want to see how these ideas will make your portrait come alive, head over to the Sugar Photography blog and look around at the various pictures of families. Just be warned that there is a lot of precious baby squishiness all over the place and it will cause your ovaries to tap dance on your uterus.

Remember that Jen’s clothing suggestions are a guideline. I realize it’s not necessarily practical or possible to run out and buy an entire new wardrobe for your family, but think about the color palettes that appeal to you and envision what the picture will look like hanging on your wall.

I hope that helps!

Especially since the torture known as family Christmas card photo season is right around the corner.

Just remember, all white equals hospital staff and/or swarthy pirates.

There were a few other questions for Fashion Friday, but I didn’t get to them today because I just didn’t feel like it.

How’s that for honesty?

Anyway, since both questions are of a time-sensitive nature, I’m going to answer them tomorrow on a very special Saturday edition of Fashion Friday. This has never happened before and, I assure you, will probably never happen again.

You won’t want to miss it.

Well, unless you’re doing something important like going to the grocery store to pick up cat food.

Y’all have a great Friday!