(Mother’s Day roses. I love them when they look this way.)
Ahh, these last two weeks have been especially busy, and I’ve been running the show alone. Things will get back to normal this weekend, though, and I’m thankful for that. I also had a lot of support from family and friends while Ryan was working, and I really appreciate their help, too. Here are a few things that caught my attention this week.
My lovely friend was featured in a recent investigation by Consumer Reports. She’s a birth educator and also runs an informative site, Black Women DO VBAC.
Fast food workers are fighting back.
A local family of four taking minimalism to new extremes. It really works for them, too!
The real filming locations for Texas-based shows. I’ve never heard of some of these.
And why Lily Allen turned down the chance to play her real-life brother’s on-screen sister. (We haven’t started season 4 yet, but I just don’t get the point of Theon at all.)
Have a wonderful weekend!
(My hair, straightened after a salon appointment.)
Yesterday I had a quick hair appointment, and my stylist applied a clear glaze and trimmed my layers a little for summer. The glaze adds moisture and shine, and she lightly toned down the highlights that have been growing out since before Christmas. I think they are still somewhat brassy, but it doesn’t really bother me and I like being sort of blonde for a change.
She also straightened my hair, which she does to cut the layers and see the color. I always get compliments when I wear my hair this way, but the truth is that I hate it. I’m a curly girl at heart, and I don’t feel like myself with straight hair. I like the fuzzy halo around my head and neck, and straight hair on me just feels wrong. Before I had children, back when I had time to myself, I would wear my salon-straightened hair home and immediately wash the curls back into it, especially if I had somewhere to be. I hated the attention straight hair brought me, and I didn’t want people to see it at all. The inevitable, “You should always wear your hair like that!” comment made me cringe, so I did everything I could to avoid it.
Eventually, I embraced straight hair for special occasions, and paid for blowouts for my graduation from graduate school and my sister’s wedding. It’s okay for the world to see me with straight hair, just not on a regular basis.
I really love the longer blunt bobs that are so popular now, but I’ve finally come to realize that my hair will never look like that, and it’s okay. Once upon a time, I wanted my grown-up self to look something like Peggy Lipton on “Twin Peaks,” with very slight curls that were perfectly styled and perfectly restrained. But more recently, I watched an encore of Carole King’s Gershwin Prize performance and realized that my hair is a lot like hers, with heavier curls that can’t truly be cut into a cooperating bob.
King is most definitely a “Natural Woman,” and I am, too.
I finished the first week of the 6 for 4 Mindful Consumption Challenge, and it’s been pretty easy so far! Last Monday I showed you the pieces I selected, and I’ve been wearing the skirt and tees in heavy rotation, due to the heat and humidity. We’re supposed to have some rain this week, which will bring cooler temperatures, and I know I’ll rely on my pair of jeans a little more. Here are a few of the combinations I’ve been wearing lately.
(Two of my outfits for the May challenge.)
My black skirt from Fair Indigo is getting the most use by far, as are the Everlane tees. They are a great wardrobe staple and are really comfortable, too. I’ve had to get used to wearing skirts all day at home, because I normally prefer jeans or shorts when chasing after the boys and doing housework. I do sometimes change into workout pants for more strenuous (and dirty) jobs like cleaning the master bathroom, which my whole family uses.
But the skirt and tees are pure cotton, which is perfect for muggy spring days. I also love the drawstring dress from Fair Indigo, though I’ve been saving it for slightly dressier occasions. In the picture above, I wore it on a recent date night for dinner and a movie. It was very comfortable and I’m shopping my closet for ways to dress it up a little, too.
(Other options for the 6 for 4 challenge.)
And here’s yet another tee paired with my black skirt. I discovered that when I wear a black tee with the skirt, it looks like a little black dress that can be dressed up or down. Here, I wore it out for a casual lunch over the weekend. I’m also getting great use from my thrifted capri jeans, which I wore (with damp hair) to get tacos Sunday morning.
These last few weeks have been incredibly busy, and I’ve appreciated having a uniform to throw on each morning. It is very simple dressing, without much color or pattern, but I am enjoying that simplicity a lot. Once things settle down and my photographer is available again, I’ll post clearer, more detailed outfit photos.
I haven’t bought a single clothing item so far, and I’m resisting temptation by deleting store emails before I open them. I have been tempted by Mother’s Day and World Fair Trade Day sales, but I’m sticking to the challenge and trying to do more with less. I did make a small donation to a kickstarter campaign that impressed me, and I encourage you to check out Carte Blanche’s lovely dresses, made in New York City. I love the idea of this company, and the Easy T-Shirt Dress is my favorite.
Be sure to check out Eden’s challenge updates at her blog, and let us know if you’re participating, too!
