SPOT ME

Last week I told my 7 year old daughter that I had run into her friend's mom. The response I expected and the one I got were scarily different. It went like this....
Me: "Hey, I ran into Serena's mom today."
Ella: "Were you wearing makeup?"
Me: "No, why?"
Ella: "Were you embarrassed?"
Me: "No. Why? Should I have been?"
Ella: Silence
Me: "Why do you care if I had makeup on?"
Ella: "I just think you should at least try to look pretty."

Follow that up with the next day's comment and you're ordering tubes of hydroquinone and a massive bag to pull over your head.
7:20 a.m.
Me: "Have a great day at school!"
Ella: "Will you have makeup on when I get home?"
Me: "I don't know, why?????"
Ella: "Well I just don't like having to see THAT (she is now pointing to the freckle (age spot) on my cheek."

Ouch. Ok, here's where I'm going to go with this. If she's going to have a critical eye about beauty, let it be about me and not her. Let her focus on my flaws instead of fixating on her own. Let her see that while that spot may not be the ideal shown in magazines, the face it rests on has enjoyed 40 years of living to earn it.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS

All images courtesy of The Sartorialist

Watching the Globes made it pretty apparent that there are two ways in which women dress. Dressing for women and dressing for men, regardless of who they are actually trying to attract. Men also dress for both sexes, but men dressing for women sometimes get confused about what women find fashionable as well as hot.
These guys have pushed the fashion envelope while still looking like men who attract women.

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

I like to indulge. What fun is life without it, right? But I heard a favorite song of mine today by the Fixx. While the song has nothing to do with going down a path of destruction in the way that I was thinking (I think it's more about politics but what do I know?) it made me think about if it's better to stay clear of the things we are really really tempted by, but know will have negative consequences (sales at Neimans, double size banana splits) or is it better to test ourselves and see if we can be strong in the midst of them (just go window shopping, watch bakery cooking shows). One thing usually does lead to another (who ever eats just one bite?) so maybe it's best to just avert your gaze and run away quickly. Or maybe not. I haven't made up my mind. Back to Fixx tunes for resolution.

TWO IN ONE

Two very elegant friends of mine have two very distinctive and creative ventures. One is a blog about hotel style, Hotel Chic, and translating that style to real life. The other is a divine property/inn located in Tuscany, Tenuta Santo Pietro, that Hotel Chic recently blogged about, which I think you will agree, looks like heaven on earth. If you're looking for a great getaway or looking for design inspiration check them out.
   

SLEEPERY SLOPE

You can't tell but I slept in these all night!
Why wear actual clothes when you can just wear
pajamas all day!

I know I've lived in the suburbs too long when pajama jeans start to look like a valid fashion option. Hmm, my suburban brain thinks. I could go to bed, wake up, slip on my equally lazy Uggs and be out the door to drop off the kids and no one would know I was still in my pajamas!!!? What a fantastic idea! Except it's not. People are already wearing sweatshirts and jeans to the theater and visit any mall in America and you will see what comfort clothing has done to not only our waistlines but our sense of style, pride and overall demeanor.
Nope. When I am being a lazy sloth, you will know it.