On Motherhood

Source: sneakpeeq.com via Debra on Pinterest

As you may have noticed, last Sunday was Mothers Day. Ah, the annual celebration where my fairytale dreams of poems and handwritten notes are reduced to a piece of computer paper with "Love you Mom" written in pencil hurriedly before Mom notices that no one has done anything to acknowledge the day. To be fair, my expectations are only high because I tend to go all-out on Fathers Day, by beating talking my kids into some extravagant gift/presentation for their dad, making sure that they write notes or personally pick out cards. And reminding them of how hard Jay works for us and how much he adores us. I don't think it's too much to expect him to remind them that Mothers Day is coming, after all.
Do I sound a little bitter? I was. I spent part of Mothers Day in tears because I felt like the lack of attention to the day was an indication of how my kids feel about me. And lets face it. Sometimes all the hard work of mothering does come down to one day of recognition. But then we went to church, (where the dream I had of sitting in the row with my older children was dashed because they woke up late, rushed to church and listened from the foyer) and I listened to the pastor speak about how guilt eats us up in parenting, about how our kids' behavior is not always a reflection of our parenting, it's a reflection of their hearts. And God wants their hearts, not their behavior. WOW. I sat in tears. And I sat convicted. And I felt like a schmuck for expecting so much of them.
I decided to roll with the day. Let go of expectations and my bad attitude, and just enjoy the day. We went as a family to see Ironman (Mr. Handsome's gift to me.), and it was sold out. So we went for ice cream instead. We had my in-laws over for ribs. My son backed into their car.
So much for a peaceful day, huh? But hey, I wore a cute dress. And I hugged my kids. A lot.

Cory, Zach, Me, TJ and Madison (and my furry baby, Samson)

Me and Madison and my Marilyn Monroe moment.

In This Outfit:
Dress: Anthropologie Summer Soufflé Dress (similar body style)
Sweater: J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Belt: Anthropologie Rippled Ribbon Belt (Kate Spade version)
Shoes: J Crew Mona Pump
Necklace: J Crew multistrand pearls

I Crack M'Self Up, Ya'll!

Okay, so I have been waiting what seems like forever for this to arrive. I swallowed my coffee and committed to a full-(gasp)price order and started waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
Finally it came! Last Friday. Yes, it has taken me THIS long to stop laughing and write this post.  Now mind you. I had beautiful visions of wearing this warm, fuzzy blazer to idunno:
High School Football games with jeans and boots
A fireside chat with jeans and boots- and friends I have yet to meet (here in the land of loneliness)
Trick or Treating with jeans and boots- come on, ya'll. I mean, isn't it obvious?
Church with (watch this) a skirt and boots

So imagine my dismay when I rip open my J Crew box and reveal a jacket the color of EASTER eggs! Neon ones.  I started laughing. And I really haven't stopped. So I did what any self-respecting blogger would do. I texted a picture to fellow blogger, AppGal. And then we both had a laugh.  It was so shocking, so unexpected, and ultimately so disappointing. (I mean really, I know it is JUST a jacket.)
It took me this long to get the nerve up to share the photo's with you.  Here are the one's the day it came:

I really should have warned dear AppGal so she could put on her sunglasses first. But let me tell you, I did not give up easily. Two days later, I texted her all these lovelies of me TRYING to make it work with my closet:

Yes, I know that there is laundry all over the place, I was in the middle of it, and just had to get this off my chest. Don't judge,  you know you have laundry in a basket some where. Sock basket anyone?
Well, I tried, but we both agreed, it is just not worth it. Especially when I left this little beauty behind in Leawood.

Needless to say, it is carefully folded back in the box, and will be going back where it came from.
Do any of you have a similar story to share?

I am SO sorry....

two posts in one day is way too much! But I just couldn't keep the hideousness I found on the newly renovated Anthropologie website to myself:

Stenciled Tigers Maxi Dress

Halvah Maxi Dress

Neale Top

What?! I thought I went to the Wet Seal website for a minute there.
Are they so hard-pressed for real design that we start stealing from the juniors department, or the archives from the long-dead "Deb" stores?
Oh, and again. Sorry to beat a dead horse here, but $398 for that crap?  I feel like I need to go take a shower.