WTH?

I have an odd fascination with Cheer for Colors. Yes, the blue bottle. Little rainbow. DELIGHTFUL aroma. I seriously will sniff myself all day when wearing items washed in this fantastic liquid. Um, but apparently they don't make it anymore? WTH?!?!? Perhaps it's the same but just in different packaging?

So, if you were at target the other day watching some strange woman open and smell all of the liquid detergent... it was me. I'm sure I lost some brain cells and many moments of distress over this change. Why oh Why do you have to mess with me and my loves?

Also, Oprah... you have on too much purple eye shadow today. Lets take it down a notch.

Which came first?

So I'm having these crazy back pains. Seriously, for the last few days I've been moving like an old person who has decided they need to workout and went on a vigorous walk that ended in extreme body aches. This then leads to not being able to workout and the cycle continues...

But which came first, my back aches (beginning about a month ago) or my "mom" hair? Or was it when I began my penchant for my mid-life crisis wardrobe and wearing flats? Or is it the joy I find in watching Law and Order? Who knows? Who will ever know?

I blame part of my back aches on the fact that we need a new mattress. I've had mine since I was a senior in college. I also blame it on the fact that I would like to have a LARGER mattress. I mean, I got this one when I was sleepin' alone. Ben and I have been married for what, 4.5 years? I got to take up the entire bed before and now I have to share? I need to reduce my body space? That takes practice. It could also be related to the fact that I sit at a desk all day. Or that I'm stressed? Or that I need to work out more? Or that my body is revolting because it wants new clothing and shoe items? or a MASSAGE!

I leave for Italy in 38 days. I need to be sans back aches, down 5 lbs, have glorious glowing skin, amazing yet comfortable footwear, new luggage, travel sized items, and a lot of rest.

Bring it.

Everytime I come here, you talk about the Resurrection. Reverend, you are in a rut.

I heart the Easter services. Good Friday is my favorite... but perhaps, I realized on Friday night, that part of my adoration has changed due to the olympics. So the Christ candle walked out of the sanctuary at the end of the service, and I should be moved. Right? However, in my stirring of being moved, I immediately remembered the opening ceremony of the olympics where one lone child skates all over the rink carrying a lantern. Oh Lord... I am troubled.

I had a fab-u weekend. It was filled with babies, family, relatively good weather, and a couple of adult beverages. Nothing says Resurrection like a little Gingerman after the Friday service. We go there every year--sadly, we were not joined by my sis and bro-in law or Nick and Erin this year due to... the baby boom. I'm relatively sure I can now use this term as the crazy amount of my friends/family having babies currently is overwhelming. I mean, hey... it's spring, right? I think that in this time of extreme economic troubles that babies are such a promise. It means we still have hope. Or, that when we don't have $ to go out we stay home and watch movies. Or something?

And yes, in case you were wondering, I do still get an Easter dress every year. And no, I am not 8 years old. I stumbled across this delish little dish at banana in November or something for $15. It was on SUPER clearnace (read $15) and a size 2 and it fit. (please note, I do not wear a size 2, but perhaps was more intrigued to buy it because it fit. And yes, I did note the size because I want you to be le impressed.) Luckily, I retried this dress on early last week and noticed that it had makeup all over it (probs part of the super clearance), and that blue underpants were not going to cut it. I mean, maybe if it was a place I'd never been I could give them something to talk about, but alas, this was the church where Big B grew up and where we got married, so I forwent the urge to become part of a Bonnie Raitt song (in my size 2 dress. Did I mention that part?)
(perhaps I should also say that basically everything I wear I could also wear when pregs because it has no shape.)


Woah. I'd say more, but our pizza just got delivered.

Lets hear it for the boys...

I begin my week dramatically unbitter (except at myself for not having lost any lbs as I had promised myself I would do.) It's a short week. I had a fabulous weekend that even included some pool side sitting and beverage drinking. I cleaned the bathroom, made some food for a friend who had a baby, went to the grocery store, ate whipped cream. What more can a girl ask for?

I'm going to contemplate this as I work from home today and desperately attempt not to read my new Jen Lancaster book... A Pretty Fat.

So perhaps we can think about things I honestly believe--
1. You can get in shape while laying in bed and thinking about doing sit ups. I really do believe this. It's mental preparation.
2. Whipped cream can indeed make your life better when eaten directly off of a spoon or a beater.
3. A new outfit or 2 can change your life.
4. A pretty day is made better with company and Whole Foods.
5. My dog snores louder than most.
6. Flowers instantly make my house look better. I try to have them once a week.
7. Jeans that cost a lot of $ really do fit better.
8. Mascara will change your world and the way others view you. They will begin to treat you like royalty.
9. I love food in taco form.
10. If you pretend your debt doesn't exist you'll just find some more. I'm good at this. I should purchase a new gigantic bag with which to carry it all around (my debt that is.)
11. I'm scared I will not be prepared when I have children. I don't carry much in my purse so how can I be? Perhaps I'll begin wearing elastic waste jeans in order to begin the process.
12. When I buy something on sale I'm actually saving money.
13. I can stimulate the economy.
14. I have lovely stories in my head.
15. I will be a fabulous boutique owner.
16. I require a lot of "things" to be me :)

7 is holy

SO, I have 7 followers. This is a holy number--7 days of creation, harvest the crop every 7 years, 7 levels of hell... wait, a minute. 7 years of bad luck. This is turning down hill pretty quickly.

SO I'm having one of those weeks. You know the kind. The kind where you just don't feel like working? Ok, I think this is possibly every week for me, but lets just pretend that this is an anomaly. Anyway, I'm distracted, apparently need a new roof, just ordered some new running shoes (which means I now must begin running regularly), and I need some new sandals for Easter Sunday. I mean, if JC is coming back, we better be looking up to par... and this means new shoes :) No, this does not count as frivolous spending because it's a NEED and not just a want. But isn't it clever when needs and wants coincide so nicely?

So as I sit here stressing about how I have all of these needs and need more $ for them--new roof, new shoes, new shoes, new dresses, new spring attire, eating out, drinking wine, getting my hair done, getting other various things that make me beautiful--I wonder, how can I address all of these needs? I mean, I need them. How could I ever cut something out? Is it wrong that I could care less about the roof? I mean, it will probably hold up until we move out. Right? This color (that I got done on saturday) will only last 6 more weeks! If you ask me my priorities are definitely in line.

I also need new books. I want to go to 1/2 priced books for lunch and find them. I think they should give them to me for free. I'll see how this goes over. I mean, I'm carrying a big purse today, maybe I'll take what is rightfully mine? I'm creating my own socialist world. (No, I won't do this in real life. I have guilt like an ex-catholic.)

So to the 7 of you... can you each give (not loan) me 5 mill? That'd be great and really help me get the life to which I hope to become accustomed.

You have 7 minutes...

small things

small things bring me joy. Especially when I'm considering a trip to Italy. Today I got excited at Target (my mecca) when I found travel sized laundry detergent. I know everyone has seen it before, but it's so small and shaped just like my ALL bottle (minus the handle). This does fall under necessary spending. When you break up buying all of these small items it won't cost 5 arms and 3 legs right before we leave... all the more $ to spend at ZARA and on wine and cheese. I also purchased some travel sized stain remover for those incidents. AND, I'm being very thoughtful because the bens is also going to be traveling to Germany when we leave my other mecca. I will be traveling by myself back to the states. Sadness. Perhaps someone should purchase me a small piece of jewelry to keep me content?

Other small things I love
Elliot (and other babies)
Gizmo (and other small animals, but mostly Giz)
presents (I like these in other sizes as well)

lame train

SO, I've had many interesting and moving thoughts lately, but have not posted them as they are not bitter, but highly... nice. So, I'll give you a quick rundown as they do not "jive" with the current theme.

I was in NoLa for a conference and was in the garden district and there was much devastation around me... well, there used to be. I was being thoughtful as I was running (the only time I ran, PS, and almost died because I am out of shape.)

A theology of resurrection. It is a city who is thriving on a theology of resurrection. They have and are beginning to rebuild. Their spirits have not been broken. They are moving about their daily lives... and especially where I was, I was so struck with the beauty of flowers and nature. The flowers are growing and their world is re-creating.

This is also in consideration that a very important person passed away this week. You may remember the old minister who helped do our wedding (I believe he was 83 at the time...), his wife, a tri-delta from SMU and a very snappy woman, died this week. At the same time... (ok, not the SAME time, but you get my point) anyway... on Friday of last week, March 27, very good friends of ours had their first baby!

Here I sit, a week in a half from Easter, contemplating the realities of living in the dichotomy and promise of creation.