What Mama Wears: Tea Party

I was invited a tea-party at my best friend's neighbour's house recently. First of all - obviously I couldn't pass up a tea-party! I mean, who would I be?!  Secondly - I got to find out about a great, Canadian loose-leaf tea company based in Hamilton called Steeped Teas.*

The consultant who gave the presentation was super-friendly and she had lots of great teas, including my all-time favourite tea blend: Monk's Blend. It's a black tea with vanilla and grenadine flavours - fabulous! And since Teaopia got bought out by Teavana (and they stopped carrying Monk's Blend and stopped actually educating their staff about tea - more about THAT in another post) and I've been more than disappointed in them lately, I was psyched to find out about another tea company that was Canadian!

In any case - what does Mama wear to a tea party with a lot of people she doesn't know? Well, it was a Saturday afternoon, so I felt safe wearing jeans, but I wanted to dress it up just a little bit. Add a really pretty lace inspired cardi, my fave white tee, and some fun accessories and I was ready to go!

Cardigan: Ricki's / T-shirt: Joe Fresh / Jeans: Reitman's / Belt: Giant Tiger / Necklace: Designs ...By Patricia / Earrings: Designs ...By Patricia

What Mama Wears: Dance Practice

For some of you it may be a surprise to hear that I am actually an avid dancer. I've taken quite a few classes over the years, and even took tap dance all the way through my first pregnancy (some of the fam jokes that that's why the big'un is so wild and crazy - I shook him up in utero too much), but I've actually been dancing with a liturgical dance group at my church for almost 11 years now. I love worship dance, it's one of my great passions - and while I'm certainly not a very graceful person in my everyday life (walk into walls much? yeesh!) I find I have some measure of grace when I'm dancing in praise that I don't have any other time. 

So how does a Mama go from running errands to making dinner to dance practice without multiple wardrobe changes? Jeggings! Okay okay, I actually HATE that word, but they're SO comfy and if you get a decent pair you can go out in public without feeling like you forgot to put a piece of clothing on. That said: I have a personal rule: Leggings are NOT pants. That means you do NOT wear leggings of any form without also wearing something that covers your rear end. I don't care if you're 16 and super-fit, 6 and super-cute or 60 and you don't care - just don't do it. Leggings are not pants.

Soul-weary

Maybe it's the weather...

I can't tell you how many times someone has said that to me recently. After a while of friends and family dealing with the fact of my depression and anxiety, it's inevitable that someone, well meaning or not, will say something like "Maybe it's the weather." Or, even better, "Well, it being winter doesn't help." And those things may well be true. In fact, many people deal with higher than average levels of depression and sadness and just feeling "down" at this time of year simply because we don't get enough sunlight, and vitamin D. But, I'm pretty sure that taking a vitamin isn't going to make much difference here.

I wish it were that simple.

But a vitamin isn't going to stop that horrible, nagging voice in my head when I'm alone, or trying to sleep, or in the shower. That voice that reminds me of how I'm a terrible mother, a useless wife, a bad friend. That voice that tells me that I don't deserve my children, my husband, my family. That maybe those people would be better off without me around.

A vitamin isn't going to make me stop checking.... EVERYTHING. Compulsively making lists and checking them, and re-writing them because they're not in order, or they don't read correctly, or it's just easier to go to the computer, type them all out, make bullet points, so that I can cross them off, or check them off, or check the list 10,000 times a day.

But what IS going to help those things? I don't know. And I'm tired. My soul is tired. I'm soul-weary.

Lunchtime glimpse...

Just for laughs, I thought I'd share this little glimpse into our lunchtime conversation today.

*Our littl'un calls 'Ninga Turtles' 'Engine Turtles' which led to this...

Me (singing): Teenage Mutant Engine Turtles, Teenage Mutant Engine Turtles...

The Hubs: Why do they have be teenagers? Or even mutants?

Me (singing): Old Guy Normal Engine Turtles...

The Hubs: Well, I didn't say they had to be OLD, and they wouldn't be normal if they were half turtle and half engine

Me (singing): Middle-aged Cyborg Engine Turtles, Middle-aged Cyborg Engine Turtles...

The Hubs: ....

Me: Seriously. I can do this all day.


Hope that made you laugh! Now go have some tea. I'm off to a tea-party this afternoon!

Tea

What Mama Wears: Menswear inspired

There's something about menswear. I love a man in a suit. I always think the hubs looks especially dashing when he dons a shirt and tie, a nice jacket, shined up shoes. It's just... polished. Put-together.

I find that menswear and menswear styles inspire a bit of confidence, strength and assuredness. And those are all things I'm lacking lately - so why not inspire a bit in myself with my own wardrobe.

Now, I'm not talking about going all suit and tie here, though it has been done. But just adding a bit of menswear inspired style into my regular clothes is a quick and easy style change.

Vest: Ricki's (similar) / Collared shirt: Ricki's (similar)  / Jeans: Contrast / Necklace: Designs ...By Patricia / Earrings: old / Hair: rolled with hair sponge by Goody

Winnah!

Just a quick note to say: I'm a Craftster Best of 2012 winner! Yay!

I'm sure I've mentioned before how much I adore the website craftster.org
It's awesome. There's every single kind of craft or project you can imagine, and some you never would have dreamed of on there.

And my big 'ol purse has made it into the best of for 2012!

I'm totally thrilled. And if you're interested, you can check out all the other UH-mazing best ofs here.

Tea.

What Mama Wears - one t-shirt, 3 ways

As a Mom, sometimes my most major concern for clothing is comfort, and then multi-wear potential. I LOVE a good piece that can be worn with many many different items. Obviously a classic white t-shirt is one of those items. Now, that said, I like something that tweaks the classic just a little bit. So when I found this shirt at Joe Fresh a couple of years ago - I should've bought 10 of them, because I never could have known how often this sweet little pintuck tee would find it's way into my wardrobe.


A Little Bit Country...

When I wore this outfit to church, a friend cheekily asked me if my horse was parked outside... So yeah, I can see how it's a little bit country, but it's still totally wearable. This great chiffon pleated skirt is the right length to wear with either boots or heels without looking uncomfortably short. Paired with my favourite white tee and a cute purple jacket makes this outfit church-worthy and comfortable to wear.

 

Skirt: Ricki's (similar) / Tee: Joe Fresh (similar) / Jacket: Ricki's (similar) / Boots: Famous Footwear / 

Necklace: Kohl's (similar)/ Watch: Caravelle (similar) / Bracelet: Designs ...By Patricia

Seeking Comfort

What comforts you?
Snuggly, comfy clothes?
Warm blankets?
Bad TV movies?

I think that during January and February, when we're all dealing a little bit with the lack of sunshine, having to pack away all the joy of Christmas, making some (sometimes unrealistic) new year's resolutions, going back to school or work after the holidays that we're all in need of a little comfort. I know I am.