Mommiedaze

Girl Talk: Comfort Food

I’m feeling a little down today. Take that and add in the cool, dreary weather we’ve had the last few days, and I’m craving comfort food!

Mmmm. Hot, bubbly, cheesy casseroles. Hearty soups. Fresh baked bread. Warm gooey brownies.

Excuse me, I need to wipe the drool off my chin.

Right now I’m drinking a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. It’s the first I’ve had in months.

Of course in a pinch the pre-packaged comfort foods like Hershey bars, ice cream and Oreo cookies suit me just fine. I know emotional eating is bad for you, but it feels so good.

Nothing brings healing like a bag of Oreos and a glass of cold milk. Girl Scout Thin Mints come in a close second, but they don’t make number one since they’re only around a few weeks out of the year.

Even if I bought a year’s supply, those Thin Mints would only be around for a few weeks.

Because I would eat them all.

Until I had to be rolled across the floor.

They should have to put a Surgeon General’s Warning on those cookies. “Warning: These cookies are addictive. Eating too many thin mints may lead to your thighs no longer being thin. They may interfere with your ability to wear next fall’s skinny jean.”

If you’re like me, nothing makes you crankier than when you want that little somethin’, somethin’ sweet, and there is nothing to be had in the whole house.

It always happens that my desire for such satiation comes a day or two after I make the ill-advised decision to banish comfort food from the house in the name of health and weight-loss.

Who hasn’t done this?

You know there’s nothing there, but you look in the fridge anyway. You stare at the cheese, the mayo, the bread. You open the freezer and curse the chicken breasts and broccali. Looking In the cupboard you feel hopeful when you spot a brownie mix, only to realize it’s just a box of whole wheat pasta. You lift the lid to the cookie jar to find only crumbs. Then you repeat this little dance two or three more times, just in case a chocolate cream pie magically appeared behind the tub of butter.

Oh, man. Now I want a chocolate cream pie.

I have to get a snack now.

What’s your favorite comfort food?

Talk to me girls.

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Girl Talk: Does Your UPS Man Know what You Look Like without Your Make-up On?

I didn’t get Girl Talk posted last Thursday, because my parents were coming to visit, and I was knee deep in housework. Housework takes three times as long when you have a three-year-old boy going behind you un-doing everything you just picked up and straightened. Oy!

This week I’ve been hunkered down at home working on some other projects, and taking care of a sick husband.

So I haven’t gone out much the last few days except for a couple quick trips to the store to replenish the milk supply. Speaking of milk, did you ever think you’d see the day that a gallon of milk and a gallon of gas were roughly the same price? Are the milking machines running on Premium now or what?

When I’m just at home and have no plans to go out, I have to admit I don’t exactly take the time get gussied up. Don’t worry. I do shower regularly, and change my underwear. But I let my hair just air dry, and the most make-up that goes on is a pre-emptive layer of Oil of Olay. That always comes back to bite me when I do end having to run out of the house unexpectedly, or answer the door for the UPS man.

Anyhoo…

What I am taking the long way around to get to is this.

What’s the minimum amount of primping you’ll leave the house with? I have a few rules.

1. My hair must be combed and mostly laying right.

2. My clothes must be presentable. No ill-fitting or stained clothes, and absolutely no pajama pants. I can not stand it when I see people out shopping in their pjs, and yes, even their fuzzy slippers! Don’t they at least own some sweats and pair of flip-flops? Really!

3. Mascara. I can go out with out lipstick, eyeshadow, even foundation, but I just feel naked with out my Great Lash.

So how about you? What are your minimum requirements for leaving the confines of your house?

Talk to me Girls.

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Girl Talk: Most Romantic Movie Lines Ever

Well, most girls love a romantic movie. I especially like old romantic movies. When it comes to my favorites, many of them have one line or scene in particular that is very memorable. So here’s a list of what I think are the most romantic movie lines ever.

This movie is a little more recent. How old do have to be before movies from your teen years are considered classics? Anyway, it’s Dirty Dancing. I love the end of the movie when Johnny (Patrick Swayze) says, “Nobody puts baby in a corner,” and pulls Baby (Jennifer Grey) up on to stage to dance with him. Yeah, it’s cheesy, but it’s still romantic.

An Affair to Remember is another favorite classic. How can you not love Carry Grant? So dapper and suave. In the final scene Nikki (Grant) realizes Terry (Deborah Kerr) is paralyzed. He spent months thinking she stood him up one night when they were supposed to meet at the top of the Empire State Building. Terry revels why she never arrived, “I was looking up. It was the nearest thing to heaven. You were there.” In her rush to get to Nikki’s side, Terry was struck by a car. So tragic, yet so sweet.

I can’t leave out Casablanca when Rick (Humphrey Bogart) says to Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), “We’ll always have Paris.” Oh, the heart break of ill-fated lovers who can not be together.

In it’s a Wonderful Life, George Baily (Jimmy Stewart) asks his future wife Mary (Donna Reed), “What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.” That scene makes me go all mushy inside every time. Every time.

My all time favorite movie is Gone with the Wind. Ah, the romance, the pageantry, the dresses! I love Scarlett O’Hara, flawed as she is. If you’ve never seen this movie, you must. And you’ve got to read the book too. As good as the movie is, the book’s just that much better. It’s no surprise that my all time favorite line comes from this movie. Rhett (Clark Gable) tells Scarlett (Vivian Leigh), “You should be kissed and often– and by someone who knows how.” Oh, be still my beating heart! (Listen to it here.)

So what’s your favorite romantic movie line? Or maybe just favorite romantic movie?

Talk to me girls!

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Girl Talk: The Evils of Bathing Suits and Win Some Swag

After a chilly spring and a cool early summer, the heat has finally kicked into high gear around here. It’s been 90 degrees and humid for days now. That’s pretty hot for us Yankees up in Michigan.

That means I’ve been spending a lot of time in the pool with my son, and a lot of time in my bathing suit.

Bathing. Suit. Season.

Three words that strike fear into the heart of many a woman be they short, tall, fat, thin, pear or twig shaped.

Oh, the horrors of searching for that perfect swimsuit.

It’s torture to try on suit after suit in a tiny little dressing room all the while scrutinizing yourself in one those evil three-way mirrors under fluorescent lights that create cellulite you don’t even have. You’ve got to find the right color, the right support, the right coverage.

For a few year now I’ve coveted one of those mix & match tankinis from Lands’ End. With so many different styles of tops and bottoms to choose from and a big range of sizes, they’ve got something for just about anyone. In fact, you can choose the customize option and even get a top in your exact bra size, with or with out under wire.

Alas, I can not justify spending over a hundred dollars on something that I’m just going to hang around my backyard in. But I also don’t want to scare the neighbors, and we do make a few trips to Lake Michigan each year.

In August.

When it finally thaws.

Oh, if you have not had the pleasure of swimming in one of our country’s beautiful Great Lakes, baby, you don’t know what cold is!

If it were up to me, I’d wear this to the beach.

I personally think the Victorians had it goin’ on when it came to swimwear. Modest, full-coverage, nothing to keep tugging back into place. It is the mystery of what is not reveled…

Unfortunately it’s the 21st century now.

I never was comfortable in a skimpy swimsuit. There were a few years back in my younger days I could have rocked a bikini, but most of the time I stuck to the one piece. And then along came the tankini. If that’s not one of the best advances in women’s fashion in recent history, I don’t know what is.

But since hitting, and passing, 30 and carrying a child for nine months my hang ups about exposing my figure to the world in a swimsuit have exponentially increased.

Well, I unexpectedly hit the swimsuit jackpot this season at, of all places, WalMart.

O.K. First of all, I know it’s a “mom” bathing suit, but I’m a mom. Get over it. I don’t wear mom jeans, so just let me have this.

I love this suit, which I think is technically called a swim dress. It’s so flattering, if I do say so myself, that I actually get excited about putting it on. I considered taking a picture of me modeling it, but decided that no matter how good it looks, a photo of me in a swimming suit just does not need to be out there on the World Wide Web.

The V-neck accentuates one of my better physical attributes while the a-line cut and princess waist causes it to fall away from the rest of my body, smoothing and slimming everything. The length is just right to hide my thighs, my biggest hang-up of all. In fact, it fits so well, I wish it were a real dress. I’d wear out everywhere.

I also happen to like the sassy little animal print. Not sure what it is. Giraffe, maybe? I don’t think that animal actually exists anywhere on earth, but it’s cute. And it’s brown, the new black, don’t you know?

Lake Michigan, here I come!

Just as soon as the glacier melts.

Talk back to me! Gotta swim suit story? Leave a comment and share.

Girls Just Wanna Win Swag

Girls Just Wanna Win Swag is a new weekly giveaway I’m starting next week in conjunction with Girl Talk. Each week I’m going to feature a different woman-owned small business that offers products for the “girl” in you. You’ll have the chance to win some swag from the featured company.

I’m really excited to help promote women in small business, and introduce you to some wonderful companies and products you may not know about. I’ve got several weeks of great giveaways lined up already. You don’t want to miss it. So come back next week for our usual chit-chat, and some great swag.

Have a women-owned business you’d like featured in a Swag givewaway? Fill out the contact form in my sidebar and let me know.

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Girl Talk: Isn’t that Cute!

Well, I missed Girl Talk last week because we were busy getting ready for The Fourth, and enjoying some family time since my husband was off work for a few days. Today we had the nicest summer weather we’ve had all season, and we were outside most of the day catching some rays and splashing in the pool. Tonight I need to spend some time on a project I’m working on for my husband, so this edition of Girl Talk will be pretty brief. Here’s a few “cute” things I found out on the web recently.

These Cupcake Bath Bombs from Sassy Pink Boutique look good enough to eat!

I found the Lil’ Evening Bag by Belle Bags at the Succulent Wife.

Liven up your next party with these Polka Dot Plates from Wrapables.

The Covet mary jane style shoe is part of Skechers line-up for fall. I need some new cool weather shoes, and these are definitely on my shopping list when sandal season comes to an end.

Poppies is just one of the unique women’s Tees offered by stellarocco. I may have to add this to the shopping list too.

Did you come across any unique or fun finds this week? Leave a comment and share!

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Girl Talk: Fight the Poof

Whoo-whee! Who went outside and turned on the sauna? It’s muggier than a mosquito swamp out there today. I hate, hate, hate the humidity. Besides the fact that just walking to the mailbox makes me feel like I ran the 100 meters at the Olympic time trials, it does a number on my hair.

I came in from cleaning the pool this afternoon and my hair was as poofy as a Pekingese with a blow-out. My hair is straight but very thick, so there’s a lot to poof out. I look like I’m wearing a blond bicycle helmet right now. We’ve only had a few hot days this season, but the all the hot days have been humid. I’m thinking this is something I may have to contend with all summer.

I’ve never been good with hair. I have years of embarrassing school pictures as proof of that. This one is from my freshmen high school yearbook. (Yes, I need something else to do if I have time to track down and scan old yearbook pictures.) It’s more poodle than Pekingese. I can’t imagine why the boys weren’t waiting in line on my door step to ask me out.

My hair always looks great at the salon, then I can’t for the life of me figure out how to recreate that same look at home no matter how many diffusers and ceramic straighteners I buy. Humidity just makes getting it to lay down and mostly go in one direction that much more difficult. I need all the help I can get with my hair. I found a few products that might do the trick this summer.

Pantene’s Pro-V Restoratives Frizz Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray promises to prevent frizz and hold your style’s shape even on steamy days.

Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk claims to smooth hair in high humidity with fruit micro-waxes that “wrap hair strands.”

TIGI says its Bead Head Control Freak Shampoo and Conditioner keeps your hair in line on muggy days, whether it’s straight of curly.

For now, I’m gonna go get in the pool and put my head under the water. Then I’ll just look like a wet Pekingese.

A Fun Blog

I found The Gadgenista recently when I was looking for contests to enter. She blogs about techie things from a girlie-girl’s perspective, like fab laptop bags and pink cell phones. I love this site. Go check it out!

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Girl Talk: A Man’s Solution to a Woman’s Problem and a Shameful Confession

First, I have to thank my wonderful husband Dave. In last week’s edition of Girl Talk I wrote about how I’d love to try this:

Fleurs Se Cerisier Cherry Blossom Shower Gel from L’Occitane.

Tuesday, FedEx arrived at my door with a beautiful L’Occitane gift box containing that very thing.

Now, most of the products and items I write about in Girl Talk are usually priced way beyond our monthly budget. They’re things I would buy if I had an unlimited, expendable income, something I’m still working on acquiring. LOL A Girl can dream, can’t she? Anyway, it was a very unexpected surprise and a very sweet thing for him to do, so thank you dear!

O.K., on to this week’s Girl Talk.

This is a sore subject. My thighs. It’s summer. I like to wear dresses in the summer. There’s only one problem, the chaffing.

Surely I am not the only woman to ever experience this. Unless you’re one of those freaks of nature genetically blessed individuals who’s thighs are so thin and lovely that your inner thighs do not touch, you probably know what I’m talking about. Granted I could stand to loose and an inch or two or ten in that area, but I know plenty of girls skinnier than me who’s thighs do not part way when they walk.

Dresses aren’t a problem in the winter because panty hose form a nice barrier. But who wants to wear those in the summer? I don’t spend all that time slathering myself with Jergens Natural Glow only to cover up my fake tan with suntan shaded nylons. So, I went on-line looking for some relief.

One message board comment suggested wearing a long-leg body shaper, or as they called it in your grandmother’s day, a girdle.

Now while they do wonders for your figure, I can go down a whole pants size crammed into one, they really aren’t summer wear. First, have you ever squeezed yourself into one of those polyester and spandex straight jackets? Oh, my goodness. It’s like stuffing sausage. It takes herculean strength to pull one of those things up and get it positioned correctly. God help you if you accidentally twist it while tugging it on.

You’d work up such a sweat just getting into a body shaper in the summer that you’d have to take it right off and shower again. Or shower with it on.

Hmm, maybe it would shrink as it dried and firm up everything even more… No, bad idea.

And since they are heavy duty and made of unnatural fabrics that do not exist in nature, they don’t breath. You’d be as hot and sticky as a Cinnabon from the mall.

I kept searching and found something else from Grandma’s trunk, well, probably great-grandma’s. Look at these beautiful underwear from The Vermont Country Store. They’re called Snuggies.

One hundred percent cotton, comfy elastic waistband. Cool I’m sure. Prevents chaffing? Definitely. But do I really want to wear that under my flirty summer dresses? They say wearing sexy underwear makes you feel pretty and confident even if no one else knows you’re wearing it. Well, how do you think these would make you feel? Like Ma Kettle?

Things only got worse from there. I found a place that sells actual bloomers.

Then there were suggestions of using different kinds of powder to adsorb moisture and limit friction. That’s all I need. A white cloud of dust swirling around the bottom of my skirt as I walk. And you know it would get on everything. Like deodorant on a black shirt. I always end up with streaks, even when I use the clear no-streaking kind.

I searched the lingerie sections of every known department store with in 50 miles of my home to no avail. Everything was either made of fabric that was too hot and uncomfortable, or was just plain ugly. I had a glimmer of hope when I found a pair of bike shorts made of some kind of light-weight space-age moisture wicking material, but, alas, the elastic waistband was too thick to wear undetected beneath a dress.

I did come up with a solution however.

Men’s underwear.

White, micro fiber, boxer briefs to be exact. (I was going to insert a picture here, but I couldn’t find any photos of men’s boxer briefs on-line that didn’t make me blush.) The fabric is light and breathable. A comfy combination of 95 percent cotton, 5 percent spandex. They’re white, with a thin waistband and the legs are just long enough to prevent chafing. And the boxer briefs are way cuter than anything in the women’s department. Very inexpensive as well.

So yes, I, on occasion, wear men’s underwear. There’s my shocking confession for the day. Now when I wear dresses my inner thighs don’t feel like Rome burning, and no one knows my secret. Well, except for you — and you — and you — and — well– let’s just keep this between us girls, O.K.?

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