Tuesday Shoesday: Sneakers

I've worn out my favorite pair of casual sneakers. You know the kind you wear with shorts or to the supermarket, not the kind for the gym. (If you're particular about those kinds of things, which, clearly, I am.) So, I went to my favorite shoe site, Zappos, to browse for some new ones.

At first I was considering something new for me, but with a retro vibe so I was looking at these:

Onitsuka Tiger by Asics

Then I thought maybe something a little more modern, something a little different would be good so I was looking at these:

PUMA Sky Lite Ballerina

But I wasn't sure I was crazy about those. Plus I haven't worn PUMA sneakers since I was about Zoe's age so I wasn't sure how they fit and I didn't want to go through the hassle of returning. I could go shopping and trying on, but sometimes I really do enjoy having new shoes delivered to my front door.

And then I hit on it. Of course, these would be the ones. They're classics. You can't go wrong with a classic. Plus they are just a little over-the-top preppy which I like. This is probably the 15th pair of my life. They arrived today and they are just as great as I remember them being. They are:

Tretorn Nylite Canvas

And in case you're interested here's some facts about Tretorn and these shoes:

• In 1891 Tretorn was founded by Henry Dunker in Helsingborg, Sweden
• The Tretorn Nylite tennis shoes, born in 1967, were regarded as the first luxury sports shoe
• The Tretorn brand was acquired by Puma in 2001

Am I a shoe geek, or what?

List of things for High School

Zoe has been into making lists lately. Lists of all kinds -- what she wants to be for Halloween, her friends, her favorite foods, etc. The most recent list I found had to do with when she gets into high school. Very interesting.

Here is a scan of the actual list:



And in case you can't read it, here's what is says:

Things I might get:
Jeans with howls [holes], tattoo
(henna) dyed hair four
pieces, dark Jeans catar [guitar] picks
elecktrick blue vw beatle
computer

Classes I might take:
Art cooking sewing club

To prom I might wear:
Long earings, small clutch
bag, ankle strap high
heels, gold anklet
long gown lose [loose] hair



I don't think this needs any further comment.

Tuesday Shoesday: Wedge Espadrilles

Earlier this spring I bought this pair of espadrille wedges from Banana Republic. I've tried to wear them 3 times now and 3 times they've been ridiculous. They just wont' stay on my feet. I know I bought the right size because the next smaller pair were really too tight. I tried heel grips, insoles and nothing works. After walking around like Frankenstein in them last night, I've decided I have to give them up. (Becky -- you have first shot at them, if you're interested.)

So, now I have to find something to replace them because I really wanted a wedge type espadrille sandal for the summer. Here are some options I'm considering:

Eric Michael -- Paloma

They look like good basics.



Kate Spade -- Candice

Maybe I could afford them if I saved.

Lifestride -- Sunny

These look cute and comfortable.

Decisions...

Have you seen this: Custom Food

And I thought custom jeans were cool (no, I still haven't ordered a pair), check out this site: http://www.createmychocolate.com/ where you can literally create your chocolate bar. You choose the type of chocolate, dark, milk, white or a combination of milk and white then you choose what to put in and on your chocolate. There is fruit, spices, nuts, candy, and grains (which includes fun stuff like cereal, pretzels and bacon -- yes, bacon!). You can choose up to 5 toppings, mix-ins, etc.

It is a little expensive for chocolate. I put together a creation for fun of strawberries, caramel and pretzels with milk chocolate and with the cost of delivery it comes to about $15. Probably a little much to indulge for yourself, however, they sell gift certificates and I think that would be a pretty cool gift to give.

Another site doing something similar is You Bar: http://www.youbars.com/custombars where you can create custom protein/energy bars. The best part of this site is that it gives nutritional information as you go along so if you're trying to stay within certain limits on carbs or sugar or fat, it is really easy. Plus you get to name your bar and they create a customized wrapper with your name on it for each bar. That's fun! Lately I've been into making my own granola bars, but when I get tired of that, I may just have to give this a try.

You Bar also has sites for Trail Mix, Shakes, Cereal, and Cookies.

Can you tell I'm hungry right now?

Easy Summer Make-up

Those of you who know me, know I am somewhat obsessed with make-up. I wear make-up every day, but most days I prefer a fairly natural look. Each season I try to come up with a go-to look for everyday that is just a little different. I am really pleased with what I've started wearing for summer so I want to share because I think anyone can do it and it is so easy. I admit that I stole a lot of this from Bobbi Brown's website, but my version is even easier.

OK, so here it is, ZoesMom's easy summer make-up:

Step 1: Use a light powder foundation or tinted moisturizer all over your face. I prefer products with an SPF of 15 of higher. I'm using Clinique's Almost Powder. (I also use under eye concealer for my dark circles, but if you don't need it, don't bother.)

Step 2: Apply matte eyeshadow in very light pink, light peach, or off-white from your eyebrow to your lashes -- in other words all over. One light coat. Make sure the shadow is matte and not shimmer. I'm using Cover Girl French Vanilla (matte) or Sephora's Eye Shadow in Porcelain.

Step 3: Apply 2 coats of dark mascara to your lashes. I'm using Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes or Maybelline Great Lash.

Step 4: If you have thick eyebrows like I do, brush your eyebrows up. You can also use eyebrow gel if you have it, but it's not necessary.

Step: 5: Use a somewhat bright pink to coral blush on the apples of your cheeks. Doesn't matter if it's powder or cream just as long as it is a little bright. I'm using Tarte's Cheek Stain. (This blush is a little expensive, but it lasts forever and it's organic.)

Step 6: Apply a sheer lipstick in a somewhat bright pink to coral shade. You can also use lip gloss in the same shades. I have about 10 lipsticks/glosses that fit this bill, but I just bought Korres' Mango Butter Lipstick in Peach and I'm loving it. It is organic and also has SPF 10 which is nice for summer.

And that's it, you're ready to walk out the door.

Tuesday Shoesday

Shoes I am currently lusting after:
These are the Tory Burch Caroline Ballet Flat. As my shoe wardrobe will attest, I do love a nice ballet flat. Doesn't that red just make these?

I am saving my pennies (and dollars and twenties...).










These are the Calvin Klein Cora. Not sooo expensive, but I'd need a place to wear them to justify the purchase. That has to be the biggest downside to working from home -- no getting dressed up for the office.
















Slipping over into total fantasy land for a moment, wouldn't it be fun to have the lifestyle, legs, and bank to warrant these babies...The Darcy by Jimmy Choo

I hope you enjoyed these half as much as I did. Perhaps I have found a new feature for ZoesMom?

How to Prolong Bedtime

Zoe has become the master of prolonging bedtime. If you're looking for tips, here are some of her favorites:

• When you are told to go up to bed be sure to leave something crucial behind like your beloved stuffed animal Eeeyore thus necessitating a return trip downstairs for retrieval.
• Sit on the toilet without actually going until a parent comes upstairs.
• Use much more shampoo than is necessary thus necessitating lots and lots of rinsing.
• Spend at least 5 minutes brushing your hair and staring in the mirror while making crazy faces. Longer if parent is not watching.
  
• Agonize over what pajamas to wear.
• Agonize over what clothes to wear tomorrow.
  
• Agonize over what book to read.
• Develop sudden case of OCD in regards to specific placement of stuffed animals, blankets or pillows on the bed.
• Suddenly remember that you have not kissed other parent good night.
• Ask a lot of questions about random things.
• Tell a story about how someone hurt your feelings that day.
  
• Ask to be tucked in.
• Ask for a back rub.
• Ask for a drink.
• Ask for a hug.
• Ask for a kiss.
  
• Say you suddenly don't feel well. Your stomach, head, or knee hurts. Be sure to vary the source of the pain.

She regularly employs 3 to 5 of these techniques on any given night.

The More Things Change, The More They Change

Funny how change can be both wonderful and terrifying, isn't it? And why is it that change seems to beget change?

Feels like life is in a constant state of flux these days and I find myself struggling just a bit to keep up. Here's a sampling of some of the change that's happening:

• My boss, the best boss I ever had, recently left his post for greener pastures. I am pleased for him, but I do wish he hadn't deserted me.
• One of my closest friends is moving back to England all of a sudden and really soon. I am pleased for her, but selfishly I really want her to stay here.
  
• Another of my closest friends just recently told me she's pregnant. I am thrilled for her, especially because I know she has wanted another baby. However, her first daughter is close in age to Zoe, our husbands are very good friends and we were always a perfect matched set. I know we'll still have lots of fun together, but the matched set idea is out the window. Yes, this is incredibly small and selfish. (Are you sensing a theme?)

Times like these always remind me of a book of short stories that I was given as a gift when I graduated college, Enormous Changes at the Last Minute by Grace Paley. Honestly, I don't remember that much about the stories except that I liked them, but the title has always stuck with me because that's almost always what big changes feel like to me.

I'm going to roll with it and I think almost all the changes underway will lead to good things and happiness, but right now I am a tad overwhelmed.

How to Have a Great Weekend Away

Step 1:
Invite yourself to a good friend's house where you like visiting. Make sure that friend's house is full of things you really like (like books and comfy chairs and chocolate cake and wine). It also helps if that friend lives in a town called Paradise.

Step 2:
Get another good friend to join you for the weekend so you don't have to make the journey alone. If you're really clever, you'll even get that friend to do all the driving while you do a somewhat poor job of navigating while singing along to their CDs.

Step 3:
Arrange for Mother Nature to provide some unusual weather and therefore affording you with dramatic lighting on cityscape views and streaks of lightning crossing the sky.

Step 4:
Arrive and immediately be presented with a glass of wine followed by a delicious home made dinner. A dinner that you didn't have to shop for or prepare at a table already set. Eat, drink, talk, eat cake, talk. Be amazed by such a wonderful meal.

Step 5:
Enthusiastically sample the local delicacies -- especially if those delicacies include sticky buns and coffee cake. Eat and talk.

Step 6:
Buy a few pounds of chocolate at the local chocolate shop.

Step 7:
Wander through little shops then drink tea and eat crumpets and scones from lovely floral china.

Step 8:
Open a bottle of prosecco and horn in on hosts' tradition of picking winners for the Preakness. All pile onto a bed and root for your horse (always pick the favorite) with lots of shouting and cheering. When your horse wins, feel like you've actually won, even though no actual bets were placed.

Step 9:
Get gussied up in dresses for dinner at the local pub and take photos in the yard like you're going to the junior prom.


Step 10:
Bring and excellent bodyguard to dinner at the pub. Eat, drink, be merry, talk, and get Blizzards from Dairy Queen on the way home just to make sure you are good and full.

Step 11:
Fall into bed and sleep like a log. Wake up an loll about in the morning while hosts are busy getting ready to attend to their responsibilities. Finally clean up and go out for a diner breakfast.

Step 12:
Pack up all your stuff and goodies acquired along the way. Reluctantly say good-bye to incredibly generous and fun hosts.

Step 13:
Sing along to every song on Madonna's Immaculate Collection CD to pass the time while stuck in traffic.

Step 14:
Arrive home to big hugs from Zoe.

ZoesMom's Bear

If you've been reading this blog for awhile or you've been in Zoe's room, you know how much she loves stuffed animals. I think we have just about one of every kind of animal ever made in stuffed animal form -- including a duck-billed platypus, a porcupine, and a salmon. Therefore I am sure it comes as no surprise to learn that one of her favorite stores is Build-a-Bear. I have lost count of how many bears, dogs, etc. that we have now "built," but it is surely enough for a small army.

For those of you that don't know the Build-a-Bear business model, it is really all about the clothes and other accessories. The bears and whatnot are relatively inexpensive, but they get you with the other stuff. It is brilliant really. Luckily for me, Zoe has never cared for the clothes or the accessories so supporting her habit has been relatively inexpensive. Not worse than something like Pokemon cards. But I digress.

This year for Mother's Day I received from Zoe my very own Build-a-Bear! She had Rob take her to the mall, she brought her own money, and she "built" this bear for me. Because it is something that she loves so much, I love it too. It is part of the mother's curse to love these kinds of presents, but it is a burden I am willing to bear. (Ha. Get it? Bear.)

So, ladies and gentleman, I now introduce you to my new bear friend Justice. She even wears a t-shirt that says "Happy Mother's Day" to commemorate the occasion.



Yes, I got some beautiful flowers and some delicious shower gel and lotion from my wonderful husband, but this is my favorite gift.

Check-up Time

Zoe had her 8 year-old check-up today and it was markedly different from all other check-ups we've had.

First of all, the nurse and the doctor talked primarily to her and she primarily provided all the answers.

Second, there was no drama. None. Not over peeing in the cup -- which she managed by herself with only a little coaching from me. Not over getting undressed. Not over the eye exam (I accidentally told her last year she might need glasses.) And not even over the finger prick. I was amazed.

Most amazing and wonderful of all is that Zoe is 100% healthy and in my opinion perfection in a child. I am ever grateful and am feeling kind of like I won the lottery tonight.

Shopping with Zoe

It started about a month ago. Every pair of pants that Zoe pulled on (that aren't leggings or yoga pants) were too small. As of last week we were down to one pair of jeans that fit, but they weren't a particularly favorite pair so they weren't worn either except under duress. (I.e. me saying, I can't stand to see you in yoga pants again!)

The straw that broke the camel's back was when her favorite sneakers were too small. That meant that surely some of the other lesser worn shoes were small too. So, yesterday we were off to the mall. Not just any mall, however. We went for it and drove to the Palisades Mall in Nyack, NY. They've got every store you want from Target to Macy's and everything in between. The place is enormous!

We shopped for about 5 hours and I think we managed to get Zoe a wardrobe that will carry her through spring and summer. There was a break for lunch and a break to ride the Ferris wheel (yes, the mall is that big that it can hold a Ferris wheel), but otherwise we were shopping the entire time.

When we were looking at clothes for Zoe the conversation went like this:

"What about this shirt?" I would ask holding up something I think she would like.
"Yeah," she would reply.
"Yeah you like it, or yeah it is a shirt?"
"Yeah I like it."
"Do you really like it?" I would ask.
"Yes, I really like it."
"But are you going to wear it?" I would implore.
Brief hesitation usually followed by, "Probably not." And back on the rack it goes.

I just don't remember being that picky. Actually I don't think I ever had a choice when I was 8. Alas, I give choices.

However, my goal this year has been to cut down on the amount of unworn and worn once clothing in Zoe's closet. I love my nieces and I am very happy to pass along Zoe's hand-me-downs to them, but it does drive me crazy when I know I am giving away brand new items. I sometimes feel like I might as well be stuffing cash into the bag as well. So, I had to wait for Zoe to actually look around the store we were in and then actually pick something up that she liked or I had to wait for the "Yes, yes I really like that!" accompanied by vigorous head nodding to be sure I picked something that would actually get worn.

Now you can see why it took 5 hours.

And we didn't even get to shoes.

Blog-iversary

Celebrating 5 years of ZoesMom!

Time flies when you're having fun.

These Were the Days

My neighborhood is the kind with postage stamp size lots and the ability to see into the next house from your own. My block happens to be packed with kids who are all about the same age. There are 4 second graders (including Zoe) in a row with a 5th a few houses further down. There are 3 fifth graders, a third grader and some kindergartners too. In other words, it is an instant play group.

Over the winter during the few snow days we had all the kids got together outside a few times to play in the snow, but since the weather has turned nicer in the last few weeks they are outside playing almost every day after school, weekends, and today they've been out there all day because it is spring break from school. It seems like they are all suddenly old enough to go out without their parents and without being fenced in to one backyard or set up on designated "playdates". At first I was nervous about Zoe being out there unsupervised, but then I realized that I can see Zoe just about anywhere without leaving my yard so checking up on her is pretty easy. Also, she has a pretty loud voice so I can usually just hear her too. We set down some rules and she seems to be sticking to them pretty well.

These are the days I remember most about being Zoe's age. The endless games of tag, the riding of bikes, the staying out until "dark." It was a constant playdate with no parental intervention and it was a first taste of independence without any worry since home was right there.

To top of the joy that is spending the entire day outside running around, having water gun fights, playing catch, and using sidewalk chalk, the ice cream man just came down the street. Zoe came screaming into the house and I swear I thought I was going to have to call 911 until I heard, "The ice cream man is here! Hurry I need money before he leaves!" Despite the fact that dinner is in an hour I gave her money because what could possibly be better than the first ice cream from the ice cream man of the year?

Nothing I can think of.

Open

Recently a book was thrust upon me by my father -- Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi. As a lot of you know, I am a very big tennis fan (as is my father -- where do you think I got it from?), but I am not a big reader of biographies, I was always more of a Sampras fan, and my TBR pile is already two stories tall so I didn't really need another book on the pile. Despite all of that fraternal pressure won and I decided to give it a go.

I was hooked almost instantly. I know Agassi had a ghost writer (J.R. Moehringer) who helped him with a lot of this, but it doesn't matter. It feels very authentic and is quite moving. As one reviewer wrote, "It's a completely unexpected trip to places you've never been." Of course I never knew most of what is in this book and I never would have guessed.

This was one of those books I could not put down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about the next chance I would get to read it. I think it probably helps if you follow tennis just a little so you know most of the players, but other than that this book stands on it's own as an incredible journey of growing up.

I mean, this book was so good I was motivated to write a review despite the fact that I don't like to write reviews. So read it already.

No Amount of Planning...

OK I realize it is only Wednesday, but it has been a week already. I mean, I am completely ready to call it quits on this one and start again on Monday. It's not that any one particular dramatic thing took place, but rather a series of small events combined with plans, obligations and a little help from Mother Nature that have led me to wish I could just get back into bed and stay there for the duration.

Here's a taste of what's been making me want to dive under the duvet:

• Zoe was sent home from school on Monday at Noon because she was not feeling well and had a sore throat. This progressed into a fever by Monday night.
  
• Monday night was the first night of Passover and Seder attendance was required along with cooking. I didn't have too much to prepare -- just macaroons, but it added another thing to do into an already busy and shortened work day.
• No school for Zoe on Tuesday because she was still running a fever at 3AM when she woke up crying. (Which also = no sleep for Mom that night.)
  
• It feels like up until this afternoon it has rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
• Work meeting frustrations too long and ridiculous and uninteresting to expound upon.
• Easter planning/family nonsense.
  
• Issuing performance reviews to all my direct reports had to be completed this week
• After a midday visit to the pediatrician it turns out Zoe's illness is most likely strep throat and she definitely can't go to school again tomorrow which will basically mean she has missed the entire week because, of course, school is closed Friday for Good Friday.

I shudder to think what new joys Thursday and Friday will bring.

Reason #943 Why I Will Never Understand My Husband

I'm sorry because I know he hates when I blog about him, but I just can't help it today because I am so confused/annoyed/truly puzzled.

I like to bake and Rob likes to eat what I bake. I make a lot of cookies because they are popular among all household members and fun to make. I tend to store these cookies in Tupperware-type containers and I can always tell when Rob has had cookies (or brownies or my newest baked good -- granola bars) because the top to the Tupperware is only 95% closed. There is always, every time, without fail, that one corner he has not pushed down all the way. I complete the seal on the container whenever I notice it, but since Rob's favorite time to eat these baked goods is after everyone else is in bed, I often don't notice it until well into the next day. The part that really kills me is when he complains 2 days later that the cookies are stale already.

Why is it so hard to close the container all the way? Is there some way I can encourage him to close it more? (I have asked, nagged, begged about a thousand times now.) I just don't understand.

Happy 8th Birthday Zoe!

This is a picture of me holding Zoe for the very first time. I am finding it very hard to believe that was 8 years ago!

The Cosmetics Counter: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Last week Zoe brought home the gift of conjunctivitis, AKA pink eye. First she had it and a couple of days later Rob contracted it. I thought I had escaped, but no such luck. My eyes started to turn red this past Monday and I wasted no time getting to the walk-in so I could start my eye drops.

Of course there is no good time to get pink eye, but this timing was particularly awful since I had two important meetings to attend and by that I mean attend in person, not like my usual conference calls. The doctor at the walk-in clinic told me I had to throw away all my eye make-up and that I should avoid using make-up for a few days. Now anyone who knows my make-up buying habits knows that throwing away my eye make-up is no small hit in itself, but then being told not to use make-up was the killer since I had to be in a room with company bigwigs.

Normally I buy the more expensive stuff sold at Sephora or department stores, but it occurred to me I could buy some inexpensive make-up at CVS that I could more easily treat as single use. As I was scanning the cosmetics aisle looking for the minimum products I could buy and I came across Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara. Many make-up artists consider this to be the best mascara out there. I was never sold on it because frankly I can be a make-up snob, but I can't say for sure that I'd ever really tried it. Since I didn't know what else might be good, I bought it in Brownish Black.

I have to say I was incredibly surprised by this mascara. It really is good stuff. It goes on smoothly and easily without clumps. The color was exactly what I expected and it lasted all day. It certainly out-performed many other much more expensive mascaras I have owned and at $5.49 each I can afford every color.

Life is Good

Lately it seems like I've been leading a life that is not mine because I've been having too much fun. Seriously. I was actually away for 2 weekends in a row!

2 weeks ago Rob and I spent the weekend in NYC. The weekend away including babysitting was a gift from my Mom for our 10th anniversary and my brother and sister-in-law put the icing on the cake with a gift certificate to our favorite steak place. Rob and I had a weekend like we haven't had since Zoe was born. We meandered around the city. We spent hours in the Barnes and Noble at Union Square. We lingered over dinner. We slept late. We window-shopped. We held hands a lot. It was just all romantic and perfect. We could use about 10 more weekends just like that.

I didn't think weekends away could get better until this past weekend with Emily and Becky in Philadelphia. Why Philadelphia, you ask? Well, thanks again to my Mom who gave me this trip as a birthday present. (Mom is on a roll with the excellent presents!) The idea was for me and a "guest of my choice" to go to the Barnes Foundation museum which is just outside Philly. I had never heard of the place, but it sounded like my cup of tea so I called my favorite tea-drinker (aka Becky) and asked her if she wanted to go. Then I immediately realized that we'd be in Emily's neck of the woods so we'd have to have her along too to make another girls' weekend out of it. Luckily it didn't take too much calendar examining to come up with a weekend that suited all three of us.

The Barnes Foundation is a pretty amazing place. It is filled with French Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and early Modern paintings among other works of art including furniture, sculpture and pottery. Despite the rather stringent security measures (The White House should take notes from them!) the galleries are really wonderful to walk through and there were quite a few surprises including a beautiful Matisse I had never seen. And they even had a poster of that Matisse.

The museum was followed by lunch and then very excellent shopping in Rittenhouse Square area of Philadelphia. Then there was dinner at Parc, a French bistro. Lots of good girl talk, book shopping, new jeans, and some good food -- a recipe for perfection. I really didn't want the weekend to end. Thanks to both Emily and Becky for their excellent company.

And to top off all this goodness, like a cherry on my sundae when we were shopping on Saturday afternoon we made a stop in the Lucky Brand store. In the store there was a moment I will never forget. As some of you know I have been working quite hard to lose weight and get in shape over the last year. I've lost about 25 pounds and I am pretty fit, if I do say so myself. I don't think I was quite this thin on my wedding day and it feels really great, but I still think of myself as being, well, fat. While we were waiting our turn to try on jeans I was looking at a top and I asked the sales person if it came in black and she said to me, "Yes, what size do you need?" and she turned and looked at me, "a small, right?"

It might not sound like a big deal, but in my entire adult life I can't remember anyone ever asking me if I wore a size small. It felt soooooo good. (Especially because the small was the right size.)

Life is good even if it isn't all weekends away and shopping, but wouldn't it be nice if it were?