Author: Big Mama

Edition 31: Fashion Friday

I’m in the process of packing for our trip. I am not going to lie, it’s a beating.

I actually read an article in this month’s Vogue about how you can hire a professional packer and, get this, not only does she pack for you but she will look through your closet and put together the perfect outfit for each event you have planned for your trip.

I bet that’s cheap.

But I will go on record to say that if I ever come into a large sum of money, I’m totally hiring a professional packer.

And maybe I’ll even go on some trips.

Anyway, today’s Fashion Friday is about business casual attire and what exactly that means. But first, I will tell y’all a true story.

Back in 1997, when I was twenty-five years old, I got a job as a pharmaceutical sales rep for a small pharma company. I knew throughout the interview process that I needed to wear suits, but once I started the job I thought I could go a little more casual in my attire.

So one day in August I wore some chocolate brown pants with a sleeveless sweater and some nice brown sandals (that doesn’t sound like a great outfit but remember it was 1997). I walked into the first office of the day feeling really cute and ran right into a Merck rep who was wearing a sensible navy suit complete with navy hose and navy heels. She looked at me like I was something she found stuck on her shoe.

Clearly she did not approve of my attire, but considering she had on navy hose I don’t really think she was in a position to throw fashion stones.

But I learned my lesson and went back to my suits until around 2003 when it became more acceptable to lean more towards a business casual look. Although I did go to a training meeting one time where we were informed that if we wore any sort of denim items on any part of our body, we would be sent back to our hotel rooms to change clothes.

Just like when I got sent home in 10th grade for wearing some blue and white striped Esprit shorts even though they came down to my knees.

Except I was 30 years old.

Apparently she was giddy with her wardrobe power.

Anyway, the attire for just about every event these days is business casual, including the She Speaks Conference, so I thought I would give y’all some examples of what constitutes business casual.

If there is a signature item in the world of women’s business casual attire, it would be the capri pant. One look at the Ann Taylor website will more than prove my point. Check out this outfit. And this one. Oh, and this one.

I’m not really a fan of capri pants, although I think they look cute on other people. I think at one time I was an capri zealot and I just wore myself out with all the cropped pants. But they do totally work for a business casual look.

These days I am a huge proponent of the trouser jeans for a business casual alternative. However, don’t confuse trouser jeans with regular jeans.

Trouser jean = business casual
Regular jean = plain old casual

Here is a darling outfit that is a perfect example of wearing trouser jeans as business casual attire. A true trouser jean will fit like a pair of dress pants, plus it should be in a darker denim rinse.

You can find some good trouser jeans here. And here. And also here. I also found these.

When it comes to pairing things with trouser jeans, look for tops that are more fitted. I really like this short-sleeve jacket and this seersucker jacket. You could also try a top like this or like this one.

If you’re one of those people that takes the time to shave your legs then you could always go with the skirt option. I believe I have mentioned that I adore this skirt. Here are a few other options.

You can also check out these links for some outfits that involve the skirt.

And last, but not least, the dress. This summer marks the official return of the dress.

I don’t really know what that means but I do know that for the last few years it has been hard to find a good dress and now I see them everywhere I turn. They are like the Brangelina of the fashion world.

I am a fan of the dress. It’s simple, it’s easy and all it requires are some simple accessories. No worrying about what shirt goes with what skirt and blah, blah, blah. If you share my love of the dress, then you may want to check out these great dresses that totally fit the business casual description.

I was planning on sharing a few footwear options, but it is late and a little four year old just joined me here on the couch. Since we’ll be apart for the next few days, I’m going to end it here.

But remember, no rubber flip-flops and no sombreros.

And most importantly, don’t let anyone wearing navy hose make you feel bad about yourself.

Y’all have a great Friday.

I’ll be checking in from Florida with ocean views.

Well, unless my suitcase exceeds the airline’s weight limit.

Highly probable.
Next up: P will pull a rabbit out of his hat

Wow. I don’t just have a few ideas for books for my vacation, but for the rest of my life. I think Karen Kingsbury was the clear winner. Her publisher couldn’t have come up with a better way to get some free P.R.

Anyway, I headed to the library this afternoon and chose three books for my trip. I’m not going to tell y’all what they are, but I will let you know my thoughts as I finish them. I’m really not trying to be all secretive but I’m afraid that I’ll share my choices and then get about twenty comments telling me it’s a horrible book and how I will hate it with every fiber of my being which will cause me to become horribly jaded before I ever even begin the first chapter.

I can’t handle that kind of pressure.

Just know that two of my choices were recommended in the comments and the other I chose on my own. Also, none of them are by Karen Kingsbury because I am a rebel at heart.

Seriously, thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve already read several of the suggested books which served as some sort of validation that I’m not completely out of the literary loop, in spite of the fact that In Style magazine is what is most often on my bedside table.

Of course I’m not entirely sure that the Shopaholic series counts as literary greatness, but the first two books in the series did make me laugh out loud at a time when I was completely sleep-deprived and hanging on to my sanity by a thread because Caroline was about three months old. However, after the third book in the series, I reached a point where I had a hard time believing anyone could continue to be that fiscally irresponsible.

And that is a strong statement coming from someone who regularly overdrew on her bank account from 1990-1994.

So, now that the book decision is settled, I’m trying to get everything else ready. I spent the rest of yesterday doing laundry and buying travel-sized toiletries at HEB. I am a sucker for travel-sized toiletries. I bought things I don’t even use at home just because they were available in little bitty bottles.

Then last night as I was cooking dinner, P and I began discussing a few details of our trip. I told him I had borrowed two big suitcases from Mimi and Bops so we’d have plenty of packing room. He informed me that he wasn’t going to take one of the big suitcases because why would he need all that room?

Here are the respective bags we will be taking on our trip.

No, that’s not a carry-on. That’s what P is taking as a suitcase.

Apparently I am married to the David Copperfield of packing.

This was the ensuing conversation.

“You can’t just take a backpack. You have to pack your suit.”

“Well, I’ll just put my suit in your suitcase.”

“Um, NO. THERE WON’T BE ANY ROOM.”

“How much are you packing? We’re going to be at the beach. What will you possibly need other than a bathing suit?”

“How long have you been married to me?”

“Seriously, how will you fill all that space?”

“Minimum five pairs of shoes, hair products, multiple outfits, and vast amounts of beauty products. I require maintenance. In the words of Dolly Parton, ‘It takes some effort to look like this’.”

Eye roll.

Not him. Me.

All I know is I’m not taking up precious room in my suitcase for his suit. He’s going to have a heck of a time getting out all the wrinkles after it’s been stuffed in a backpack for the better part of six hours.

Although I may still bring the other suitcase because I could totally fit my three favorite pillows and a sound machine in it, which would officially make it THE BEST VACATION EVER.

And if there’s room for his suit among my pillows, I’ll consider letting it in.
For those of y’all attending She Speaks

If you are a blogger and are going to She Speaks, then head over to Lysa Terkeurt’s blog. She has a Mr. Linky set up so that you can enter your blog information.

It’s a great way for everyone who is attending to connect before the actual conference. Plus, you may find some great new blogs to read.

Also, since the attire for the conference is business casual I’m planning on doing this week’s Fashion Friday on what exactly that means. Here’s a hint: No cut-offs or sombreros.

Although sometimes a sombrero does have a way of adding that extra something special to an outfit.
I hear that reading expands your mind

This Friday P and I are heading to Florida for a little vacation. One of our former students from Campus Life is getting married and he asked P to perform the ceremony.

In case y’all didn’t know, P is a true renaissance man. Not only can he landscape your yard, but he is also a licensed minister which comes in very handy for those folks who may want to increase the curb appeal of their home and renew their vows at the same time.

Happens all the time.

Anyway, we’ll be in Florida for several days. Days that will involve staying in a house right on the beach and sleeping in until whenever I dang well please.

I know I’ll miss Caroline but I honestly don’t think she’ll notice I’m gone, what with all the chocolate donut consumption and unlimited swimming that will take place at Mimi and Bop’s house.

So I’m going to have a lot of time to just relax and, if memory serves, there is nothing better to do while lying on the beach than to read a good book. I mean I’m bringing my computer with me, because it is a part of me with its happy little apple that glows at me night and day as if to say HELLO FRIEND!, but I don’t think computers and sand are a good mix, so I’ll need something for the beach.

I went to dinner with my Bible study group last night and we discussed a few good books. Actually, they discussed a few books and I just nodded my head because I haven’t read anything since the television writers came back from being on strike and who needs books when there are new episodes of “The Office”?

The girls talked about “The Red Tent” which is loosely based on the Bible story of Rachel and Leah. It is about how women would all congregate in the red tent during their time of the month. I haven’t read the book, but I think the red tent is a brilliant idea.

Why don’t we do that now? Why not throw us all in a hotel room somewhere with a bellman sliding constant trays of Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownies under the door? Just stock that room with some kleenex for all the irrational crying and a couple of cases of Midol. Oh! And maybe some of those sock’em bop’em giant foam bats like George and Weesie Jefferson hit each other with during that episode where they went to marriage counseling. We could all eat our chocolate, cry, and then beat the heck out of something with those bats to channel our inner hormonal rage.

That would be golden.

None of this is my point, by the way.

I need a few good books to take with me to Florida. The only catch is that I’m not really interested in learning anything. I’m looking for light reading that will make me laugh or cry or both over the course of a few days.

And I don’t like mysteries or anything scary.

I have enough of both residing in my refrigerator.

Since I’m asking y’all for book recommendations, I’ll give you one in return. The last book I read was “The Middle Place” by Kelly Corrigan. I adored this book. In fact, I wish I hadn’t read it yet so that I could read it on vacation. It’s the true story about the journey the author takes after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 37 years old with two young daughters, but it’s wrapped up in stories from her childhood and especially her relationship with her father. It’s beautiful.

So, now it’s your turn.

What do you suggest?
The great summer kickoff

Our Memorial Day weekend can pretty much be summed up in one word.

Sunscreen.

If that doesn’t sound very exciting to you, then we’re on the same page.

Forget gas prices, it’s the Banana Boat SPF 50 (TEAR FREE!) that’s going to eat away at our discretionary income this summer.

On Saturday, we all hosed ourselves down with sunscreen (SKIN CANCER! AGE SPOTS! PREMATURE WRINKLING! THE OZONE IS A DISTANT MEMORY!) and headed to the neighborhood pool which was filled to the brim with members of the floatie brigade in their swimmie diapers.

I think we all know that those swimmie diapers are nothing more than a placebo to make us feel better. They’re poop catchers at best.

And now that I’ve thought about it in those terms, I feel the need to go bathe in Clorox.

In all honesty, in spite of the lack of swimmie diaper effectiveness, I truly love the neighborhood pool. It provides guaranteed activity and social interaction every single day of the summer, not to mention BEAN AND CHEESE NACHOS at the snackbar. And really what makes you feel better in a swimsuit than eating a big plate of tortilla chips covered in refried beans and cheese?

Especially when you chase the nachos with a Country Cone.

So we kicked off our pool season in a big way. We swam, we jumped off the diving board, we went down the slide, we ate nachos. And by “we”, I mean P and Caroline. Well, except for the nachos. I participated in the nacho eating activity.

By 6:30 that evening, Caroline could barely stand from the exhaustion. When it comes to the pool, she doesn’t ever want to stop. She’ll literally swim until her legs give out on her, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing because she will fall into bed and sleep for twelve hours.

The problem lies in the time it takes to get her from the pool to the bed. A time that is marked by exhaustion and complete lack of reason. As we got in the car I asked, “Are you done with your lemonade?”

“Yes, I’m done.”

“Are you sure?”

“YES.”

I did the sensible thing and poured the remaining three teaspoons of lemonade in the parking lot.

TEARS. SOBBING. WAILING.

“I WANTED MY LEMONADE!!”

Well, I want a sedative. We can’t always get what we want.

We continued to have these kind of precious moments until I finally wrangled her into her monkey nightgown (NOT THE KITTY-CAT PAJAMAS! NOT THE PRINCESS PAJAMAS!!!) and got her in bed.

And then we woke up the next day and did the exact same thing.

Except I was smart enough not to pour out the rest of the lemonade.

I’m officially ready for summer.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Last night I finally got Caroline in the bathtub after a long day of sun and swimming. I let her play in the water for a few minutes and then said, “Okay! Time to wash your hair.”

“I don’t want to wash my hair.”

“We have to wash your hair because you went swimming today.”

“But I DON’T WANT TO!”

“Too bad. It’s getting washed.”

I scrubbed her little head and rinsed the shampoo with clean water while she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

When I finished rinsing she opened her eyes, looked at me and said, “Mama? I need to ask you a question.”

“Okay, baby. What’s the question?”

“Why did God make you so bossy?”