Perfumed Dreams

There is a crisis developing in my life...I am almost out of Rain, my very favorite fragrance.

"Crisis?", you ask. Yep, that it is! I simply cannot go to sleep without a dab or two of it on my neck and on each wrist!

How did I develop such an odd obsessive pre-slumber behavior?

Growing up, my very best friend in the world was my Mother's mother. Each summer, while my parents recharged their batteries for a week or so, I was blessed to spend time reveling in my Grandmother's undivided and doting attention. And she ALWAYS had elaborate plans for our time together! 

There were field trips to the obvious, like Disneyland (Anyone remember "E" ticket rides?), and the eclectic, like the La Brea Tar Pits (my very favorite geeky place). I still remember an afternoon at an out-of-the-way Spanish mission for some festival, for what exactly I can no longer recall, but I do remember the AMAZING Mexican food, and the hand-made, hot-off-the-griddle tortilla a nice lady handed me that was nothing short of sublime.

And there were projects galore: biscuit making (Do not overwork the dough or the biscuits will be tough!), learning to knit, tooling leather (I made my own notepad cover!). The pinnacle effort was a Mother's Day cake for my Mom decorated with my handmade fondant violets (Boy do I wish I could find the picture my Grandfather took of that cake!). 

And there were ENDLESS hours of playing house and tea parties! Marge and Betty (our alter egos) must have had a pair of real knuckleheads for husbands, 'cause those two ladies always had plenty of marital woes to commiserate over!

I have so many glorious, glimmering memories of those days with my Grandmother, but there is one memory I will never forget...

Each night before we would go to bed, she would take her cherished black bottle of Lanvin's Scandal, circa 1933, off her dresser, tip it ever so slightly, and then gently touch the golden stopper behind each of my ears and on each of my wrists, repeating the actions on herself as she explained to me "you had to have sweet scents filling your head to insure sweet dreams."

Grandma & Grandpa on their South American honeymoon.

Grandma's bottle of Lanvin Scandal

Of all the "stuff" my Grandmother collected through her life and travels, it is this empty perfume bottle I most cherish. It now sits proudly in my locked curio cabinet, safe from dangerous little boy hands.

While writing this post, I did a little research and found two excellent blogs -- Perfume Shrine and Now Smell This -- that review the fragrance and discuss its place in perfume history. Unfortunately, Lanvin discontinued Scandal in 1971, so to put even a few drops into my bottle would be lavishly expensive, if not downright impossible.

So, though my childhood memory of what Scandal smelled like has long ago faded, the nightly ritual my Grandmother taught me lives on; though for me it is Rain that I entrust to guide me to the sweetest of dreams. 

Lucky for me, restocking my Rain is as easy as an online order from Nantucket Natural Oils!

Sweet dreams to all! And to all a good night.

Brain Blobbing

I have a question... 

How much television is too much television?

There are many voices out there preaching to parents about the potential negative effects of too much television on our children's developing minds.

(If you're curious, PBS Parents: Children and Media or the American Academy of Pediatrics Media Education Policy are good research starting points.) 

But has anybody done a study to determine the exact threshold for TV-related brain liquifying in children? Is there a point at which there is no return?

As you, dear readers, know from a previous post, our household has been under siege the past few weeks by a series of evil viruses, ricocheting from one family member to the next. Thankfully, the Handsome Husband has remained unscathed battling through this germy battlefield, and he has done an amazing job nursing his wounded troops and tending to the barracks and supplies.

These have been long and trying weeks for all! We've done simple crafts and coloring, read books and done puzzles, played board and card games, but at a certain point all non-TV options lose their appeal, and what is left for ailing Mom to do, day after day, with little ones fighting raging fevers (sometimes hitting 104.5!) and pukes?

So, I have blatantly succumbed to the electronic babysitter!  I have planted my ailing children, and myself at times, on the coach, tucked under our favorite fleecy blankets, for hours on end of mind melting television viewing!

And I really can't blame 'em for wanting to zone out in front of the boob tube! That's exactly what I want to do when I'm feeling foul.

There, I admit it! I am the very worst mom! And I'm not going to apologize!

Unless, of course, I start detecting liquified gray matter oozing from my children's ears.

My New Love

Kudos to Title Nine for creating my

 favorite new piece of clothing!

The Salt Sweater

I am seriously in love with this sweater! 

I scored a gray one a few weeks ago at the big sale in Stoneham (MA), and I will gladly pay full price next fall for another!

And, just for the record, I RARELY pay full price for anything! 

I LOVE a bargain! 

But the Salt Sweater is, IMHO, the perfect sweater, so I'll make an exception!

It is super soft, zero itch - which is a blessing for someone with very dry skin.

I am above-average in the height department (5'7.5", still prayin' for that 5'10", but starting to lose hope), not slim, not curvy, somewhere in between . . . would you call that "athletic", and this sweater is the perfect fit! It hugs my curves and forgives my Mommy bulges.

I generally run on the warm side, a gift from my maternal grandmother, and the Salt Sweater perfectly fills the niche between a long-sleeve t-shirt and a full-on sweater.

Over the first few weeks of this relationship, I have found myself reaching for the Salt Sweater almost everyday! With jeans for a day of Momming duties. With slacks or a skirt and a pearls for a date with the Handsome Husband. It just works!

Please, please, please Title Nine, bring the Salt Sweater back next fall! And expand the range of colors (it was available in Black, Gray & Tomato this winter), too!

P.S. I love the 275 Sweater too! Another mid-weight, zero-itch sweater! Tho' it's more of a casual, everyday piece.

Retail Therapy & Stripper Style

The off spring were finally fever free this morning, summarily dumped at their respective schools, and the Fortuitous Housewife was freed from quarantine duty! Wahoo!!!

Sure there was a workout deficit to be addressed, and a few errands to run, but there was also time on the schedule I could squander as I choose. My choice? Some much-needed therapy of the retail persuasion.

In the Boston area, serious shoppers are blessed (or cursed, depending on your credit limits) with a bountiful cornucopia of retail options -- Newbury Street, Natick Collection, Burlington Mall, Legacy Place, Wrentham Outlets, to name just a few -- but for quick, almost guilt-free therapy, I love a speed walk through TJ Maxx! 

Yep, that's right, folks, I admit it, I have a Maxx problem! (Though, I refuse to even acknowledge their inane "maxxinista"!) A little bit of everything all under one roof, with the thrill of nabbing a "bargain" to heighten the therapeutic affect. What's not to like?

As you may recall, the Fortuitous Housewife recently faced a pre-big night out shoe predicament. That day's post and voting results became the springboard for much shoe chatter and mutual shoe admiration that evening.

The Winner

But one particular gal pal stole the shoe show that evening -- to off-set what she felt was a relatively conservative frock she had donned her "stripper shoes" -- shiny, black-patent leather, 4"-heeled, platform, peep-toe pumps. Despite her protestations that her feet felt fine ("no pain at all"), just looking at her stripper slippers made my normally Dankso-clad feet throb.

Anyway, while racing through TJ Maxx this morning, I spotted these...the ultimate "stripper slippers"!

Unfortunately, my iPhone gave the lipstick red satin an unsavory tomato-y tint.

Even putting my very best retail rationalization skills to use, at $259.99 (that was the TJ Maxx sticker price!), these satin slippers will have to look for another pair of suburban Mommy tootsies to torture.

Hmm...maybe I'll show the stripper slipper snaps to the Handsome Husband this evening and see just how good his imagination really is.

Fever Pitch

I'm thinkin' every parent out there will agree -- there is almost nothing worse then a sick little one!

We would do almost anything to make them feel better, to make the hurting go away. It makes our heart ache to see them sniffling, sneezing, coughing, feverish, puking. (They're still too young for Nyquil, right?)

Let us not overlook one truth of this scenario -- this is our golden opportunity to be totally selfless; endlessly cradling, rocking, and stroking their feverish little head all night. You are uber parent!

But, and let us be totally honest here too, what really sucks is that, while they're whining, crying, puking, and flaying about, all you really want is a few, consecutive hours of sleep. 

If you are a stay-at-home or work-from-home Mom, however, you are totally SCREWED! 

It is inevitable that your dedicated, hard-working mate, whose diligent efforts allow you the luxury of being home with your children, will have an early morning meeting with the company president, is departing on a week-long business trip, or has a presentation to a prospective major client, leaving you no escape from nursing hell! While he sleeps peacefully in your matrimonial bed, you will tend to the little patient. After all, isn't this the job we Moms signed up for? 

We take care of our family, each one of them, so they can go out into the world and give it there very best. As they say, it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it, and I cannot imaging doing anything else. (Now there's a surprise the Fortuitous Housewife will have to contemplate and elaborate on in a future post!)

So today, while the youthfully-incubated germs invade my now rundown immune system, I will guzzle countless cups of steaming stimulants, watching each minute crawl by, wondering how I will survive until nightfall. My only solace, the friends, to whom I will recount my tale of sickly horrors, who will shower me with sympathy and kudos for my dedicated parenting.

Thanks friends, but I'd gladly skip the kudos and take a nap!

Now, where is my java! Coffee! Must start dosing immediately!

Inspiration, Motivation, Commitment

So, I want to tap out some pithy, snide or insightful post, really, I do, but I am totally lacking inspiration today.

Sure, I could pull out my rather lengthy "post idea list", but I am also totally lacking motivation today. Guess that's what a home-bound, fever-riddled little one can do to a writer-Mom.

This is why I resisted my friends' oh-so-flattering suggestions to start a blog for so long!  I couldn't see creating another monster that requires regular feeding. I didn't want the commitment! My life is already full of commitments! Daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, domestic engineer, Chief Procurement Officer, General of  Mobilization.

But I am also a writer, I am also a photographer. I need to work, it keeps me sane. Writing helps me sort through, filter, and determine what is important and what is simply noise to be tuned out. Taking pictures helps me see my world from a new perspective with fresh eyes.

So what shall I post today?

Waiting...

Waiting...

Waiting...

Nope, nothin'...obviously the muses are otherwise engaged today.

Wait a minute...I think I just wrote a post!

What do you wish you had the inspiration, motivation or commitment for?

What's the one thing you know you should be doing, but have spent an embarrassing amount of time avoiding?

S'waves, Waves & Twirls

Recently a "groupie" from a previous chapter in the Fortuitous Housewife's tale requested photographic evidence of my new, curly self, she only knew me as flat-iron locked.

This DevaGirl has learned to love her locks, and their multiple personalities. Thanks, DevaCurl!

Here you go, Sugar & Spice!

And the winner was...

Thanks to all who voted in last night's Slipper Sweepstakes!

Slipper Sweepstakes Winner - Patent & Suede Peep Toes!

For those whose pick didn't win, I will share a secret...one vote was placed early by a constituent with significant seniority and fashion sense.

Festive Grown-up Fun at the Country Club

For one evening we ladies got to trade in our suburban mom uniform (generally yoga pants, quilted car coats & Danskos or Uggs) for silk, sequins & smiles...what fun!

Cinderella Smiles

Momma's Big Night Out Dilema

The Suspects

Yipee! I get to go out with my favorite date for some festive, grownup fun this evening! I had an excuse to go out by myself a new cocktail dress and actually found one I love at my first stop!

The nails are freshly painted!

Usually I would just slip into one of my 6 pairs of black pumps, but for this occasion Cinderella even found some new slippers! And now the dilema...which ones to slip on! Help! Consider this my cyper "phone-a-friend".

My good ol' reliable, classic peep toe pumps.

Or do I go with these leg-elongating flesh-tone peep toes?

Or maybe these patent-leather sling-backs I found?

Or how about these funky suede and patent leather pumps?

 So, what do y'all think?

Time for a Trade In?

Yesterday I rolled into the gas station on fumes and was stunned when the pump meter read $62 to fuel up my gas-gobbling mom-mobile! Yikes!

Sure, spiking crude price stories seem to have overtaken all other news stories this week, but that's just "news noise". Then I watched the meter roll pass $40, $45, $50, $55 and I could literally feel this globe of ours shrinking.

I have been cheering and praying for the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya as they raise their collective voice and demand the powerful & corrupt (and in one particular case, the stark raving mad) release their iron grip and give their countries back to the people. As an American, I feel it's my karmic duty to root for these far-away families as they gather and protest for the basic right to have a government that serves all the people, but when our family mini-van ate up a significant chunk of change the under-my-breath grumbling was a pure reflex reaction.

My grumbling was followed by a wave of guilt for my All-American selfishness over a few extra bucks going into my tank. We take so many rights and blessings for granted here in this blessed country of ours. All too often we complain about what we don't have instead of being thankful for what we do. We can be so isolated in our red, white & blue cocoon, rarely considering the electricity that reliably flows into our homes 24/7, or the abundance of foods piled high in our grocery stores. Heck, we have storage facilities to stow away the stuff we've accumulated, and probably never even needed in the first place. So how dare I grumble! Especially when millions of people are putting their lives on the line to win the basic freedoms we Americans too often take for granted.

Later that day, when the furnace kicked on, a mental meter started ticking off digits and I couldn't help thinking how glad I am that spring is almost here. This made me think how sad it is that my spring fever isn't so much a response to the long, cold and snowy New England winter we've had. I was thinking of next month's heating fuel bill. I took a deep breath as the next wave of guilt rolled in.

Just this morning, the valet at the salon (Yes, the salon I go to has valet parking! But honestly, you should see the size of their parking lot, TINY!) commented on my "full tank" and then proceeded to tell me how much it had cost him the other day to fill up his Buick. Hmm...full tank, valet...I'm not just lucky, maybe I'm down right spoiled.

Yes, the prices at the pump are painful, but surely we can keep in mind that a) these prices aren't just the fault of protesters in the Middle East, we can thank financial speculators for a good portion of this spike, and b) is it not a relatively small price for us to pay when we consider what millions of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters are fighting for on the other side of this global village of ours.

So, I am here by promising to be more aware of my blessings, both personally and as a citizen of this amazing country. And I will do my best not to moan, groan or whimper anymore over the price of gasoline or home heating fuel. A more fuel efficient car would help with this goal, but I NEED my mini-van...REALLY? And I'm going to try to keep in mind that I am a member of a global community and focus on supporting versus childlike pouting.

OK, I'm climbing off my soap box now. I'm getting a little dizzy up here.

There are days...

that prove to a mom, once again, that it really does take a village! Heck, sometimes it takes a village to survive just one day.

Yesterday, as the afternoon slipped into evening, my preparations for a book club gathering at my house were complete, but my digestive system decided to take a wicked turn. Just 45 minutes before arrival time, I sent out an all points bulletin warning the ladies to stay away from my home for fear of potential contamination.

It was an ugly night, another opportunity for my husband to prove his wonderfulness. This morning I managed to hobble downstairs to the couch, a worthless observer as father and sons prepared for school and work.

And then the larger village stepped in -- emails, text messages, phone calls. "What do you need?" was the query of the day. A school pickup, turned into a playdate, that turned into dinner.

Dad managed to escape from work early, a rare chance to watch tae kwon do class then take his boys out for dinner.

All the while, the not so fortuitous housewife laid on the sofa, trying to avoid any food related television. I knew I was starting to feel ever so slightly better when I discovered Julie & Julia was on and didn't have to change the channel.

So, tonight the fortuitous housewife is feeling a tad better, but is also feeling very lucky for the village she finds herself a member of these days!