No Average Mom

It is now dawning on me that getting rid of almost all of my clothes might not have been a good idea. Prior to moving it seemed like a good plan rather than to put things in storage for what could have been a long time. Now that we are settled and all my clothes are hanging in the closet I am finding myself with nothing to wear. The only things I can find look about as appropriate as equestrian riding apparel would at a garden club tea. I went to 4H with my son the other day and felt so overdressed it was funny. People in my new circle are just more casual and relaxed than what I am used to. I really wish I hadn’t sent all my track pants to Goodwill.

Now that we are pretty much settled into the new house I have decided to get myself back on track to live a healthier life. One thing I am doing is taking fat burners to give me a bit of jump start. I am one of those people who needs to see the scale move in order to feel motivated to continue. Even if it takes a little supplement to get things off to a good start it is important for me to successfully stick to a diet and exercise plan. You can disagree with my methods if you want to and that is fine. I fully admit to needing a little crutch to be a good dieter. It is what it is and that is how I need things to work.

It is now very clear that I need to pull out my bottle of alli diet pills and get back on track. I have gained 5 pounds in the last month. My weight had been holding pretty stable but it seems to have gotten out of control. I think all the stress of moving caused me to loose control and shove anything and everything in my mouth. I had really good luck taking Alli before and think I am going to give it another run. At least winter is here and it is going to be a long time before I have to try to fit in my shorts again!

Stress and my complexion just don’t go together. I am just one of those people who you can tell by my face what is going on in my life. This isn’t to say I wear my emotions on my sleeve but rather that my skin wears them for me. You can tell if life is a bundle of stress because my skin will look like a 12 year old boy. I have tried everything from Proactiv to homemade remedies in an attempt to clear it up. Right now I am just trusting that once life become more relaxed my skin will once again be clear. This is something my mirror is very much looking forward to seeing

In between loads of laundry today I decided to do a little self assessment and spend a few minutes looking in the mirror. What I found was not entirely objectionable. Having lost a good twenty pounds in the last years I certainly feel more confident in what I wear. My clothes definitely hang better than they once did. No longer am I drawn to long tops and bulky layers. There are certain things like my “mummy tummy” that will always be there to some degree but that is a badge of honor in my humble opinion. It felt good to not walk away from my inspection and feel like beating myself up afterward or run for the nearest box of cookies.

There are some people who just seem to be able to pull off being quirky. You know the type of person I mean. Someone who can dress or act a little on the eccentric side without coming across as crazy. I think there is a fine line between the two and know only a handful of people who manage to do this well. One lady I know dresses in a bohemian style and yet somehow always look classy instead of that sloppy style reminiscent of the 60’s. Another couple I know have one of the fish mailboxes that they dress up for seasonal and holiday occasions. I love people who are true to themselves and walk to the beat of their own drum while still fitting into the bigger social structure.

Prior to the start of summer I began a fairly strict health and diet routine. For at least the first three months there seemed to be little change in my body as a result. Finally, about 1.5 months ago the weight started to come off. It is amazing what loosing even 15-20 pounds does for your entire outlook on life. No longer do I make my first choice for attire a pair of track pants and t-shirt. Long forgotten jeans and cute shirts are now seeing the light of day again. My husband was shocked to see me wearing fashion jewelry because I am someone who rarely wears anything other than my wedding rings. My next project is to go through my closet and attic and at long last give away all my “big girl” clothes. I believe that if I don’t have anything big to grow into there will be more motivation for me to stay on track. The only problem is the miser in me has a hard time parting with stuff.

This is just my opinion but it should be a requirement for anyone designing baby clothes that they have to actually be a parent! Furthermore, they should have to try to dress a squirmy wiggly baby on a changing table before ever putting any product on the market. You have to wonder what type of market research ,if any, is conducted before a product finds its way to the racks of your local department store. This idea hit me yesterday as I was trying to work my son’s flailing body into a complicated outfit that we received as a baby gift. Not only did the outfit feature far to many snaps and flaps but also incredibly wrinkly fabric. Who wants to iron let alone iron baby clothes? Seriously, baby attire should be wash and wear with simple yet functional designs. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort and quality just to look cute at the tender age of one year old.