OOTE: Birthday Party and Why I Love Canada.

Day: Saturday, June 29, 2013.

Where:  My Birthday BBQ/Party.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  The Mirabel dress has been taunting me over the past two years since I had gotten pregnant in 2011 and was still too postpartum to wear it in 2012.  I was determined to wear it this summer, so I decided to see if I could fit into it again on Saturday night.  And since CW really wanted to wear her factory version (from the current collection), I was hopeful since clearly my daughter has been on a run of "let's look like Momma" lately.  (See yesterday's post for more proof of that.)

Fortunately, I have lost *just* enough weight to fit into it again.  Now, I am not as thin as I was when I first bought it, but it felt great on and was exactly right for me to play hostess at my "I am getting SO old" party.

Cool Factor: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  Simple, great length, with darling embroidery, this dress felt cool and in my mind, looked cool.  The minimalist accessories (barring the balloon, of course) kept things easy and chic.

CW's hair is now long enough to pull back into a high ponytail, so I think she looks really cool.  But I am biased, of course.

Anecdote from the day:  Originally I had decided that I wanted to celebrate my continuing aging by inviting a bunch of female friends over and having "festive" drinks, which depending on the friend either means wine or sparkling orangina.  (Guess which festive drink I prefer...)

But as the numbers came in, it became obvious that only a few women could attend (thank you so much America's birthday holiday week) so I decided to turn the party into a bbq with husbands and kids invited, as well.

It was wonderful, but check out these numbers.

Women--6.
Men--5.
Boys--15.
Girls--5.

Yes, there were 15 (!!!) boys total to a total of 5 girls.  For every one little girl there was three boys.

Okay, so since it is my birthday today and since I get to share it with both the wonderful Gigiofca* AND Canada's Canada Day, I thought I would make a list of things I totally {heart} about Canada.

*Go on over and send her some bday love, y'all.  ;-)

(I have only been to Canada once, btw, in 2004, for one day, and to Vancouver.  I know this seems ridiculous for me to love this country so much--but I don't care.  I still love it.  My husband says my obsession with Canada is only eclipsed by my obsession with clothing.  Har-dee-har.)

I had intended to start this list last July 1, but the Derecho got in my way, and (haha), I lost the wind in my sails to get it done, even late.

1. Rush.  Did you expect I would have written something else first?  And let's be honest, I will admit to loving "In the Mood" which is from their first album and totally LOL-worthy.  But I still LOVE it.

2. Crash Test Dummies.  Especially Brad Roberts, 'cause his voice kicks major butt.

3. Bryan Adams.  I have roped CW into this one since "Cuts Like a Knife" is one of her favorite songs.

4. Ice Road Truckers.  They drive on ice. In 40 below 0 weather.  Because they know no fear.  I can't look away.

5. Survivorman. This guy goes out into remote wildernesses BY HIMSELF, with only a camera, and the barest amount of things to live on...he and the Ice Road Truckers are my personal heroes.  Amazing.

6. Love it or List It, and its sister, Love It or List It, Too.  HGTV has a ton of Canadian programming in its lineup, and of all of the Canadian choices, these two are my favorites.  They are formulaic and I think probably "fixed" for the ultimate "drama" every episode, but I can't help but be on the edge of my seat every time...are they going to "love it," or "list it?" 

For the Love It or List It version (the one in Ontario), I always want Hillary to win since David reminds me of a wily snake, but on Love It or List It, Too (Vancouver), I always want Todd to win because he is my man from reason #7.

7.  Fifteen.  Please please tell me someone, *anyone*, out there reading my blog watched this show in the early 90s and remembers both Todd Talbot and Ryan Reynolds from this "so bad it's 'awesome-ful'" show on Nickelodeon?  I would love it if they were to issue all of the episodes on DVD.  I would 100% buy it and re-watch every single episode.  Multiple times.  (My brother would join me, he loved the show, too.)

8. Gordon Lightfoot.  No, I am not joking.  I adore it when his music comes onto Sirius Satellite Radio's "The Bridge."  My fave song?  "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

My dentist *hates* that song.  It was playing while I was having my cavity filled and I told him it calmed me down, and he was all, "glad to hear it, because I hate that song."  Well, then.

9. Metric.  Their "Breathing Underwater" song is lovely, pure and simple.  CW and I sing it so much that Angus can sing it, too, albeit in his own special, "I am only 1-year old" kind of way.  It is more like "Aww ah AW, Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh, ohwwww!"  

10. All my Canadian friends, in real life, and in the blog world.  You all rock, seriously.  Sweet, kind, thoughtful, and pleasant.  I would even bear the terrible temperatures (well, maybe for a week, let's be real here) in winter to spend time with them.

There are items not on my list, but I will make sure to add to it next Canada Day.  I think I need to keep a word file for my list of things I love about Canada.  ;-)

Happy Canada Day, everyone! 

Baby Angus: Week One...in Photos!

Hello! Baby Angus is officially one week old today! :)

I want to say THANK YOU for all the incredibly sweet and kind comments left at the our announcement post.  I am full of gratitude that so many lovely people swing on by my blog!  You all are the best and I had a lot of smiling/tears of joy in my life after reading them...

We are surviving, but let's just say that I am not exactly in any position to be on the computer much. In fact, when I wrote the last post introducing Gus, I was full of the best painkillers (which is how I got it done). Ha.

Today is very much the first day I have felt up to getting out of bed for more than a few hours, and I thank God for that. I had a few nights of pain (even with the medicine) where I just was all, "can I really make it through the night?" I had those with the other two kids, but your body lets you conveniently forget them so you go on and have more children. Ahhh, instinct and evolution messing with memories.

I am going to keep this short and sweet and show off some of my favorite photos of the family from this week (no ootd photos, well, you know, there may be two from the past week, but for me pjs and soft leggings were on order for the most part).

Enjoy!

 

Gus, still at the hospital, on the last day.  I spent that whole day pretty much chilling with my little man.  It was great.  For a few moments my kids and my dad showed up, but for the majority of the day it was just the two of us.  I think he liked the peace and quiet.  :)

Last day at the hospital, took this shot of my dad, CW, Rex, and Angus.  LOVE this.  So sweet and happy!

Our "going home" photo.  Technically we left about four hours later, but CW, Rex, and Grandpa left a few minutes after this photo was taken.

It was nice leaving the hospital past 8 pm.  Very quiet and serene.  Gus has had few moments of that since arriving home.

Angus and Rex.  Rex is IN LOVE.  He is a great big brother.  All those issues we have had with our big guy in the past year or so have gone by the wayside.  Love that he can focus his energy into being a great big brother.

The three of them.  Two seconds after this shot was taken, Gus bawled his head off.  He was ready for--wait for it--more food from momma.  Anyone surprised?

Taken yesterday.  These blanket sleepers are awesome, keeps them warm but you don't have the worries like you do with actual blankets going over the little baby's heads.

This is darling.  I can't believe I managed to grab this photo!  :)

I did venture out on Friday to go get a refill of my medicine (have to pick it up from the office, controlled substance and all--ooooooooh....) and our first doctor appointment for Gus (he's in fine shape!).  We also stopped at McDonald's for lunch and because of my anemia (more on that in a different post--let's just say I may have needed a couple of units of blood transfused while in the hospital), I HAD to have the Angus burger, natch.  (Although even if I had a clean bill of health, I still would have.  Can't resist, I mean come on!)

This photo is of me with Rex after he was born.  I am a big fan of the putting babies really close to my face and squishing them with all my momma love.  ;)

Squish, squish, squish with all the love and CW. 

Okay, that's it! :)

I hope to be back to fairly regular posting in a few days, but obviously it is as the situation dictates. (Oh, the littlest ones...so many needs that directly involve my chest and arms. LOL.)

P.S. Boden decided to start their mid-Season sale this morning, which means that many items are an additional 15-35% off their regular price. This sale goes until April 13, so you all have time, but I have noticed some items are running low in stock. Having said all this, my 15% off coupon link with free ship and returns gives you the same basic deal on many of the sale items, so think of dipping in this sale if you see an item you were really interested in that is 20% or more off.

I will likely write a post on this sale either tomorrow night or Tuesday. :)

This mid-season sale does not come with free ship and returns, but the code in my sidebar and below will allow you to have free shipping and returns (but not stacking of the 15% on top of the mid-season % off, darn it!).
Save 15% at Bodenusa.com with Free Delivery and Returns!

Night night!

Introducing Gus...

He was early. (4 whole days before his scheduled c-section and 8 whole days before his "due" date.)  His birthday?  March 25, 2012. 

I did end up laboring! And I made it to the hospital with *just* enough time to spare. The c-section we had was neither scheduled or an emergency...it just fell somewhere in between.

His real name is Angus, which is way more popular of a name for boys and men in Scotland, Canada, England, Ireland, and Australia. In the US, Angus is beef, and real "manly" beef. :)

The nice doctor who gave me my anesthesia told me that this is not only the year of the dragon in Chinese astrology, but also the year of the black dragon, which is auspicious if you have a boy, as they will be especially manly. Guess he suits his real name, then. (Oh, and at 9 pounds, 3 ounces he showed us who is boss in the weight department besting Rex by 1 pound and CW by 2 pounds. Rex WAS 4 weeks early, but imagine if those two had been twins, ouch!)

I did end up having some complications, but I will get into that at a later time. That said, these people know my messed up delivery history and were very. well. prepared. for whatever my body decided to throw at them this time.

And now for some photos of his first and second day of life!

Rex and CW have been so excited to meet him that when the time actually came, I seriously felt like they thought of Gus as a rock star...and they acted like his groupies.

Rex held him and then CW.  Supervised of course.  Well, not by me.  I can barely move--THANKS MAJOR ABDOMINAL SURGERY. 

Grandma and Grandpa were over the moon, too!  BTW, best babysitting grandparents in Virginia, just so you all know.  And I am surely not biased or anything.  ;)

He has blonde hair and really blue eyes.  He looks exactly like CW sometimes and exactly like Rex at others.  And then sometimes he will look exactly like both of them AT the SAME time.

He is at that age where he just likes to sleep.  (On my belly, of course, but every once in a while on an actual baby bed.)

He may have left the big baby belly I had for all these months, but that doesn't mean he has to leave the general vicinity.  If he had his druthers, he would be in this position all. the. time.

(Which I don't mind.  Might be super warm, but oh, so freaking cuddly!)

That's it for today and likely a little while.

Those Boden fans out there who know that for the past two Tuesdays I have published a post on the "Week's Temptation" will have to use my link in the sidebar to get to it today or visit last week's post for more information about this kind of sale in general.  I have a feeling all the Boden fans who come here and visit will understand my priorities over the next few days to a week or so (depending on recovery, etc.).  (Of course you would.  Imagine the person who doesn't understand.  LOL.)

You all have a WONDERFUL day.  I certainly plan to.  :)

And She is Now Three...

That's my girl.  Happy Birthday, sweet CW.  Love you!

Happy Belated...

#4 (Rex) and not quite #40 (Mr. Dina)...

From one of Rex's very first photos (he was in the NICU for 8 whole days!)...

To one of Rex's first big, BIG smiles...

To a brush with a dandelion's soft seeds...

To Rex's recent brush with Howard Jones hair...

My dear sweet Rex has turned the big, huge FOUR!

(As did Mr. Dina--not quite the big FOUR-OH--, whose smile shows how pleased he is that people remembered to put his name in the Happy Birthday song!  When you and your son are born ONE day apart, the tendency is to forget the older one's birthday...)

Happy Birthday, my favorite man and little man.

Boden, I "Fall" for You Every Time...

Yes, please, I will have you, Miss "Audrey Dress." And a little more of what the ever-lovely Vanessa Lorenzo is having, too, s'il vous plaît.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jane, for making me aware of the presence of the Boden Autumn Preview. YAY! I was stuck subbing all day--and get this--I didn't have my computer (shocker), so I didn't see what Jane had written until just mere minutes ago!

Check out the preview and report back your favorites!!! :) Have fun!

P.S. I will do my NYC pics!!! I PROMISE...just a bit tied down, so to speak. ;)

Mother's Day...

Although ubiquitous, I feel I needed to have a Mother's Day post, even if it is only a post for me (and for mothers out there who feel similar)! :)

There are times I look at you both, Rex and CW, and I just desperately wish that I could grow up with you and be a peer of yours. You both are so much fun, so sweet, so smile-y, I KNOW without a doubt you both would be amazing to hang out with...

And then I remember...I needed to grow up and be a product of mothering (or fathering, in my case) myself to be the sort of person who would be capable of raising children who would be the kind of kids other people want to be around.

So even though I won't grow up with you, you both are the proof that good things exist in this world, and it comes from the passion only parents ever understand. So to that end, I thank you, Dad, for raising me to be the sort of mother that has allowed both Rex and CW to shine.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Babies, Babies, and the Beach...

Unless you have not paid any attention to the way my blog used to look, you will have realized there have been big changes over here at My Superfluities. No, not that content...I still talk a lot about J. Crew, Boden, and my kids...but I FINALLY found a photo of my kids that would be PERFECT for the header. The daffodils I had before were really pretty (and also one of my photos), but I just felt that with the 250th post, I wanted to switch things up. So you know, I took the header photo, and unless I am in one the photos in this post, I took all these photos, too!

I am doing this post mainly for the people who just think my kids are TOOOOO cute...grandma, grandpa, nanny, pops, Roxie, etc. :) Enjoy, all.

I have superimposed my username on these photos to protect my copyright...if you really love them, please, please ask for permission if you want to use them...I do try to do photography on the side as a (very non-lucrative) business, so you would be taking my (not so lucrative) livelihood away from me if you took the images without asking!!! Thanks in advance... :)


Baby CW, asleep, all precious and pretty in her Jacadi Liberty Print onesie. I DID NOT pay retail for the Jacadi outfit. You mothers out there can stop having your heart attacks. ;) Jacadi is Ridiculous, with a Capital "R." I think I bought it for half-off, and then an additional 20% off...basically equal to a normal crewcuts skirt or something...


Did you know that babies teach themselves to suck from a straw? Yeah, me, neither...but both of my kids just FIGURED it out. This just makes me smile, I love that little ones learn stuff on their own. BTW, CW reminds me of a baby model in this shot. It could be because she is wearing Jacadi... ;)


The three of us at the beach in North Carolina. In a SWING. At sunset. Yes, I felt lucky. BTW, if you think Rexie is happy here, just wait!!!


My arty shot of a surfer. I punched up the contrast and amped up the sky with a polarizing filter...but the surfer himself makes the shot. Pretty cool. (And, ladies, open this shot up, he looks pretty darn good, too...)

She's going, going, going... (Go to next shot...)

Gone. Yes, she fell from daddy's shoulders onto the sand and this was the face she made. :) Wow. To be a one-year old again...

Told you to wait. I LOVE this shot...may be one of my best shots EVER. And though it was accidental, come on, the Mr. Happy shirt with that smile? God was watching us take this shot and just let it happen...

Another arty shot of the sea grass and the dunes. I softened the shot, and then increased the saturation. It was sunset, which gave the clouds in the distance a neat color and feel...

Going up the stairs with such precise movements? This is what makes parenting so wonderful. I need to see this photo when Rex tries my patience. So darn precious...

And with the sunset over the Outer Banks, NC, I bid you all farewell.

I will most likely be unable to update this blog, either in post form, or in commenting form, for a few days. Please forgive me, but know that if I can come on by, I certainly will!!! :) Enjoy your weekend, and please take care...

My Sweet CW...Age One!

I never imagined being lucky enough to have two kids...and now I do...I am truly blessed. :)

Baby CW...one year ago, at 8:17 am, you entered our world as amazing as you are today. Thank you for being you. I love you so much!


Baby CW, in daddy's arms, on the day she was born...


Baby CW, today...looking as precious and wonderful as ever...


This seems to be a tradition in these parts...on our birthdays...we watch the Yo Gabba Gabba "Birthday" episode. Baby CW LOVES DJ Lance (pictured on the TV). Every time she sees him she just smiles REALLY BIG!

Happy Birthday, sweet CW!

An Apology and a Picture...

I want to say I am sorry. I love blogging but between caring for my sweet kids (pictured below) and taking care of my sweet kindergartners, I am very very tired. Very tired. It is exhausting being with multiple little ones all day. ;)

I knew you would forgive me for my absence if I showed you cute pics of my kids, so here goes...


Rex and I just hanging around one day. LOVE this photo. Makes me smile and I am not even wearing any makeup and Rex is all injured from a fall the day before but we are both just so very happy...and what is life if you aren't happy! :)

I will get to blogging again soon. I will comment back. I promise. (And I always keep my promises...)

A Mish-Mash of Everything...Even I am Lost...

You know what? When it rains SO HARD that you can't even see four feet outside your window, it is CRAZY RAIN. CRAZY!!! That is what we have been having here in the inner-burbs of the DC area for the past twenty minutes (it is around 2:15 pm as I write this). Jeez-louise.

Onto my (LAST) weekend wear...part deux. My first weekend outfit was the insanely popular "owl-eye" miniskirt. I already posted it... Then I went ahead and posted my outfit from Thursday of last week because I like to confuse you all, obviously. I hope you all aren't getting whiplash from all my starts and stops.

I CANNOT wait until every last bit of my classroom is packed up, my grades are done, and I am outta here...anyone want to help? ;)


Please try really hard to only laugh a little bit at this outfit. I chose to put it up because well if I spend 50% of my summer at the pool it seems a bit disingenuous not to show what I wear to cover-up my swimsuits (NO, I will NOT show my swimsuits...sorry or Thank Goodness!).

This cover-up is from J. Crew, Summer 2008. So cute, right? Look at all the seahorses, crabs, and shells...precious! Obviously Rex doesn't really care for it...or maybe he was just ticked off because we weren't allowing him to do something dangerous (he always has a fit if we take away stuff that he shouldn't be playing with...you know, letter openers, permanent markers, ant spray, etc.). (We really have child-proofed our house but--and this isn't something they tell you--a lot of kids figure out the locks and things, thereby making the locks, etc., totally useless...sigh!)


Onto what I wore after the pool on Sunday...the blue, jersey, tie-front dress from J. Crew, Spring/Summer 2008. From what I read, a whole lot of you have this dress. Isn't it AWESOME? I love this color, especially...what a unique, vibrant, almost Tiffany-box color. The necklace is the yellow-glass bead ladybug piece from J. Crew this last fall, 2008. The wedges are from the Gap Outlet last spring 2008.

We were heading to church which is why I look all dressed-up.


This pic is for you all to see how sweet CW is (like you all didn't know this).

I have a picture of me and Rex that is very similar and which I had framed as soon as I printed it. When I saw this picture, I decided this would be the one I would print of me and CW to place next to the one of me and Rex. The one I have of Rex I look at daily (and hopefully will get up on this blog for you all to see), so I knew I wanted one of my precious little girl.



This is a picture of what my next post will include--the in-store only Ikat print Bermuda length shorts. This pattern is popular, but this seems to be the only piece that was done in this melon/yellow combo. Anyhow...I need to publish this pic so I can put it in polyvore!

You all have a great day. If you live near me...can someone pick me up in their boat? I am not sure our streets will be vehicle passable... ;)

Okay...Here is Some Big News!!!

Now some of you may already know this, some of you may have suspected this, some of you may be shocked by this, and some of you just won't care but:

I GAVE NOTICE TODAY THAT I WANT TO TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM TEACHING FOR A YEAR!!!

What this means is that I will be mainly a stay-at-home momma next year. YAY!

Now, I am going to teach three weeks of K, 1, or 2 summer school to earn some extra cash, and I will also be subbing a couple of days a week next year (but no lesson plans or grading for this lady), and possibly doing a few "intercession" sessions at our two year-round schools, but still, 90% of my year will be used to raise, teach, and love my kids in a way that only I can...This doesn't mean other "caregivers" can't do an awesome job...it just means I want to do it myself!!! (Haters, simmer down now...)

I feel so fortunate that we can do this. I wish everyone who wished to stay at home with their kids could. My sweet sister-in-law has to go back to work next year when her darling baby will only be a mere 5 or 6 weeks old. My heart breaks for her.

So if you have been wondering why I have been less "vocal" in the blog world lately, that is what I have been doing...quitting (kind of). Wahoo!

Review of a Dress I Actually Wore to School...No Holes, Everyone!!! (CHEER!!!)

Let me start by saying that I have commented back on the last three blog entries I did...but just in case you haven't checked my comments lately...I have had to insert this clause to all my latest commenting:

From this point until the end of the school year, I will only be able to general comment back unless a specific question is asked. I hate this because I love the conversations we have so much, but something has to give in my short supply of time. :) I know you all are fine with this...but better for me to let you know what is going on rather than you all thinking I am ignoring you...which I would never, ever do!

I CANNOT wait until June 24, 2009, because this is the date that I anticipate that I can actually start resuming my favorite type of commenting...responding to everyone...I have a lot of fun writing back to what you all have written...

I am sure some of you all have noticed that I am not commenting as much on your wonderful posts, either, and I anticipate that will resume with full force around the same time. :) So YAY for school almost being done!!! So long, sixth-graders!


Okay...I officially LOVE the jersey dresses by J. Crew. They come in these fantastic colors and the material is so soft and stretchy and drapey and almost everyone I have seen wearing them looks so great! So good on you, J. Crew for going full-steam ahead with more dresses in this material.

I happen to own a few dresses in this material and they are my go-to favorites for dressy casual in the summer and spring. It feels so good to slip on just a dress and some sandals and just go. These dresses are the epitome of breezy.

In January, I fell in love with the Sara dress. Unfortunately by the time they went on sale, they were sold out in all of the smalls (the size I wear in the jersey dresses). Sigh. But then the June arrivals appeared and I nearly fell over from my excitement. (Well, I was sitting when I saw it, so I guess I would have fallen 2o inches, but still...) The dress I fell in love with is the one I am wearing above and the one that you can find here at jcrew.com. It is called the dressy jersey cinched dress and it is 78 well-spent dollars (well, I got it for 20% off).

Summerilla also owns it and looks so pretty in it.

You can also buy it in a grey color. (I wish it came in other colors...if they had this in tea rose or orange, I would so buy them...)

When you go on jcrew.com to check it out, notice that the model has her sleeves all scrunched up so it looks like it is sleeveless. Yes you can do that, but it is a lot of trouble. I happen to LOVE cap-sleeves, so I am going to keep it this way, but if you want, that way is another option.

As you can see, the small fits well. I would encourage all ladies who buy it to think, "it has a lot of material...so unless I am exceptionally busty...buy smaller." Since I have more junk in my trunk than on top...I definitely went with a small. I am wearing a cami because I cannot reveal that much of me at school...no way, no how. Plus the peek of color looks pretty! Any other color camis that you all think I should try with this?


Here is the back of the dress. Obviously a pleat got caught, which is why one part looks a bit askew. Don't worry, when you move, the skirt moves too. The skirt was not permanently like that all day.

I put this up so I could show how I think the belt part is meant to be wrapped in back so you can do the bow in front (very top photo). I really like the belt...such a fabulous way to cinch your upper-waist.


And I couldn't resist...Rex came up to me while I was about to take my last shot and flung himself into my arms. He had just woken up (which is why his eyes are barely open) and demanded a hug. Swoon. I love little kids and their affection. They often don't hug and kiss freely if there is something else distracting them, so the times they do give it...so very special.

You all have a nice day...Hope some of you will consider this dress...