Bathing Suit Shopping!

Showing more than nice girls oughter, 1930

Bathing suit shopping gave me enough incentive to get up early and do some really heavy duty yardwork. I don’t know why I still look in the store mirror and picture myself in the same suit ten years ago. Actually, I prefer myself with my more womanly figure than how I looked when I was much thinner. I am strong and healthy. I don’t want to look like a kid.

It took several tries, but I finally found one that I felt flattered me. My daughters gave the okay, which clinched the deal. Later, my husband would also approve, so I think my choice was a good one.

Shopping with two pre-teens is a real scream. They each took a dozen different style suits (all pre-approved by me) in a few sizes each. I first directed them to the Speedo rack, where all suits were one-piece racers. Then I allowed them to try a select few styles that were two-piece but with one-piece coverage.

One of the store employees saw my girls loading up their arms with suits and asked them if they were going to try them on. I said “yes” for them, and she said, “You’re only allowed to try on five items at a time.” I said, “We are very courteous about putting things away.” She restated herself, “Okay, just remember only five items.”

The fitting rooms were not supervised, so I allowed them to take all their suits in. To make up for our disobedience, I cleaned up the mess that others had left behind. I really cannot believe the inconsideration of women who throw their clothes on the floor, sometimes inside-out. I restored dozens of items to their proper hangers and placed them on the rack outside the door. When the doors closed at 9:00, I hope the employees were happy to find at least one fitting room that was in decent order.

Memorial Day was a beautiful one. After a bike ride and all the yard work, my husband and I took off and cleaned off the pool cover and got the pool pump running. In the meantime, the kids were all happy as ducks in their kiddie pool. Once all the work was done, I put on my new suit and soaked in the sun.

After dinner, we did some more shopping. My daughter made out like a bandit for her birthday and decided to spend it all on new softball gear. I was pleased at this decision. (“For where your treasure is, there is your heart also,” it says in Matthew.) Twelve’s little ten-year-old sister tagged along to help with the decision-making.

Once we got home, everything was taken out and labeled with a Sharpie. We’re a little late getting to bed on a school night. After several days off, it almost feels like they should be home for the summer now.

Happy Memorial Day!

Sarah Palin and Nancy Reagan: High Fashion for Women in Politics

I had to laugh when I saw the first editorial criticizing the high cost of Sarah Palin’s campaign makeover. All that time I thought she had done her hair and makeup herself! Certainly a woman who can literally hunt for her own family’s dinner didn’t need any help in that arena! Then I thought this little fact should endear her even more to American women. Most of us need a little help to look absolutely fabulous. You can almost see yourself being put into her position, becoming a surprise vice-presidential nominee, with a newborn baby and nothing appropriate to wear. You know your looks are going to be scrutinized from head to toe and all around. Considering that the entire budget spent on her behalf actually could have been spent on one outfit, by some of the rich elite, I think she was her frugal self.

What comes to mind most easily is a similar controversy over the pricey, high fashion clothing worn by the elegant Nancy Reagan. Most of the clothes were borrowed, and some were donated by the designers. Many of the pieces were in turn donated by Nancy, as is the intent of Palin.

In searching for a picture, I found that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley will open a new exhibit, on Nov. 10.

“Resembling a Camelot-styled vignette of the late-20th Century, the exhibit will showcase more than 50 years of Nancy Reagan's fashion, beginning with her 1952 wedding dress and concluding with the suit she wore for President Reagan's funeral in June 2004.”

Read the story by Margie Ann Clark here.

Said Nancy Reagan, "I am delighted that these designers are being recognized for their incredible talent. It was an honor to wear each of these pieces, and every gown, dress and suit brings back wonderful memories; moments in my life that I will remember and cherish forever."

For more information about the Nancy Reagan - A First Lady's Style exhibit at the Reagan Presidential Library, call (800) 410-8354 or (805) 577-4000.

I also found this paper doll book honoring the fashions worn so well by Nancy, sold at Amazon.com

A Mother’s Changing Fashions: Form Follows Function

I often wonder whether other stay-at-home moms change their outfits as many times a day as I do. Form following function, and allowing for many fluctuations in weather, I typically change at least half a dozen times per day. This does not count the number of times I put on and remove my cardigan inside the house. Today is an example of a typical day for me:

1. Early morning: I don jeans, a blouse, a denim jacket, and sneakers to take daughter to school with education fair project.

2. Mid-morning: The temperature has risen dramatically, and I change into skorts, a short-sleeved top, and sandals to run some errands with my toddler.

3. Late morning: Time for a bike ride! I change into shorts and sneakers, keeping the same top, to fix a flat tire and take my toddler around the block a few times.

4. Early afternoon: Nap time for baby, work time for me! Now I wear my painting clothes and painting shoes to go outside and stain the shed.

5. Late afternoon: The kids will soon be home and I hate to greet them looking all grimy. I wash the paint off my arms and legs and revert back to outfit #2.

6. Early evening: Things are cooling off and the breeze from outside is making the dinner cold - as well as me. I run upstairs to put on a sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers.

7. Later-early evening: We are getting ready for either softball or baseball, and the temperature will steadily drop through the next two hours of activity. I put on a second sweatshirt and carry yet another.

8. Late evening: Pajamas. Final outfit change. This one is my favorite.

[The drawing shown is of a Norwegian Bride in 1883. I cannot see a practical use for this outfit but found it interesting.]

My Next New Pair of Jeans…

...Will not be made by Levi’s.

I am not a fashionista. My favorite garb is a pair of jeans and a sweater or t-shirt, depending on the season. I was never loyal to brands either, until I met my husband.

Kevin is a no-nonsense, low maintenance, jeans-and-t-shirt kind of guy. In his profession he is able to wear his favorite jeans and sneakers all day long. This is one of the things he enjoys about being self-employed.

For some reason, he has always worn Levi’s jeans. It took a while for me to understand this. But after buying him a few different brands, I realized that Levi’s wore better than the other brands, and I never had to question whether or not a specific line would fit right. I started wearing them, and now that is all I have in my jeans drawer. Six pairs of jeans, in black and various shades of blue, all Levi’s.

I was in for a shock, therefore, when I read this month’s issue of Life News. It announced, “Life Decisions International (540-631-0390) has released its latest edition of “The Boycott List” (dated December 2007). Since publishing its prior list, Sears has been dropped from this list of companies funding Planned Parenthood Federation. A new edition to “The Boycott List” is Midas (mufflers). You can express your displeasure to Midas CEO Alan Feldman, 1300 Arlington Heights Rd., Itasca IL 60143. Whole Foods Market, Nike, Levi Strauss, and Clif Bar are among the corporations still on the list as contributors to Planned Parenthood.”

I have also been enamored of the Nike brand, since I started shopping at a local Nike outlet when I outfitted my children for their first season of track-and-field. No more Nike for us.

If you see us wearing these brands, it is because I simply cannot afford to replace all of our jeans and sneakers. However, I will not be buying these brands until these companies stop contributing to Planned Parenthood.