28 July 2011

23 July 2011

13 June 2011

Two Thoughts Tuesday: Love You, Love You Not

1) Love You

I think I will be requiring an intervention. I need all my true friends, the ones who really care about me, to band together and convince me that I can not wear these earrings every single day.

 It won't be easy though, I mean do you see how cute they are on? 

I feel like Pocahontas. Which for some reason makes me want to channel Vanessa Williams and just start belting out Save the Best for Last even though I know that the song she did for that movie was something about wind and colors. Save the Best for Last is just catchier, yes? Sometimes the sun goes round the moon...except it doesn't. Like ever. Right?

Anyway, I really did--save the best for last I mean. Because those super sweet earrings came from my most favorite of all retail outlets: Target. Yep. And not just that pair, but two more (red and taupey/cream) for the bargain price of $7.99.  Best. Last. Saved. Totally.

2)  Love You Not

So in January, I saw these sandals online and immediately put them in my shopping cart because they are a) super cute and b)t-strap thongs which happens to be the most comfortable style for people with Sasquatch feet.

The problem is that they stink.

Like really bad.  Some kind of chemical smell--I guess from the plastic? I don't know. I had packed them for our trip to Charleston, and really needed to wear them as my shoe options were limited, so I can't return them since they got all beaten up on those crumbly sidewalks. I keep hoping the smell will eventually fade or something, but so far no luck. So do y'all have any suggestions for deodorizing my pretty little flowery flipper floppers? Kitty litter? Lysol? Melt them down and start over? Anything?

Here a Foo, There a Foo, Everywhere a Foo Foo

Hi. Remember me? The Mellon? I haven't been hanging around here much lately. Have you been wondering just what it is that could be keeping me from clogging up the interwebs with my stream of consciousness rambling?

No?! You hadn't even noticed my absence? Oh. Well, that's a blow to the ole ego, isn't it? And here I'd put together this lovely photograph-enhanced list itemizing a few of the things that have been occupying space in my brain lately. You know what. I'm going to go ahead and share it anyway, if that's ok with you. What? I can't hear you. Lalalalalalalalala....

So here we go, in some order of importance:

1) I'm a Foo for you Dave Grohl.

Did you know that Foo Fighters released a new CD Tuesday? (They're a band Mom) And they had a documentary out, too? And Dave was on the cover of Sunday Style? It's been a veritable FooSmorgasboard. I think I've listened to Wasting Light about 30 times already. Seriously. My favorite song is Arlandria. Or Bridge Burning. Or I Should Have Known. Or maybe Dear Rosemary. No, These Days. Back & Forth? Oh they're all good--well except White Limo--which I do like right up until the screaming starts. The screeching gives me flashbacks to the latest battle waged in the Amaya/Chase wars, so I can't stand to listen to it for long. Maybe when more time has passed and the wounds aren't as fresh...


2) Reading. I love going to the bookstore--it's like Disneyland to me. Only better because you don't have to wait in line for 20 minutes to get to the good stuff.

Yes, I have a Kindle and an iPad. And sure, nothing beats the convenience of clicking a few buttons and finding the book you want to read on the screen in front of you a minute later. But, I'd never give up my trips to the bookstore. I love to wander the aisles picking up anything that strikes my fancy. And, there's just something about holding an actual book-the feel of the pages in your hand, the smell of the ink. Love.

Right now, I am reading This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness by Laura Munson

which caught my eye both because the author's name is Laura and I have a thing for Lauras and because I liked the giant horseshoe on the cover.  So far, I've laughed, cried, nodded and had several ah-ha moments. Which is the very definition of a good book in my opinion.

3) Cooking--AKA You Win Some...

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

You Lose Some.

Broiled Salmon or as I like to call it: My broiler hates me and there is nothing more disgusting than the smell of burning fish skin. I mean fish in general is nasty, nasty stuff. Burnt fish? Barf Barf Barf.

4) Heaven. Or the writing utensils I'd imagine they have there anyway. 

5) Spring! And pretty spring skirts. 

6) Spring cleaning my closet to make room for all of those pretty new spring clothes. 

 7 Bags to Purple Heart. How on earth did I ever accumulate enough articles of clothing that I can fill 7 bags and still have a closet jam packed? I think I should probably go try to fill 7 more before PH comes tomorrow. But I get so attached to my clothes. Like they're my babies. I just can't send my babies off to some strange home. No, instead they must stay buried in my closet where most of them will never see the light of day. I have issues. I know.

7) Return of my Cherry Cola Highlights. I just adore that the dye color name is Cherry Cola. Makes me smile because it reminds me of one of my favorite song lyrics: Seeking cherry cola as the bridging wine from Melissa Auf der Mar's Lightning is my Girl.

 

Totally worth those 3.5 hours lost to the Time Sucking Vortex, yes?

Disclaimer: I have no connection to any of the products featured in today's post. No one cares enough what I think to approach me about writing a review. Everything mentioned here was purchased by my own personal volition with my own AmEx. I will in no way benefit from anyone going out and also purchasing said items other than earning the right to say "I told you so."

Wait--what day is it again?

Sometimes I get confused. But it's Tuesday, right? Whatever day it is, it's been a long one. It feels like a week ago that I went into their rooms in the morning and found my two little cherubs like this:

And without the pictures, I'm not sure I'd remember serving Phillies toast to two hard working CEOs.

Or finding Bernard trying to hijack a reindeer to ride back to the North Pole.

I do remember quite clearly though how dapper Drew looked before heading to work this morning.

He was so handsome in fact that I felt the need to leave him a little love note where he'd be sure to see it.

I think it took a good 20 minutes before he stopped laughing. Frankly, I can't figure out what's so humorous about $1000 shoes. I tried explaining that they're black, white, and tan so they'd go with everything, they have buckles so they'd fit my fat feet, and they're Chanel so they'd last forever. Yet, still he laughed. Odd.

I'd have pondered the matter longer, but now that it's bitterly cold, I have to allow for an extra 15 minutes to get the child bundled up to go outside. 30 if I have them both. 

Then off to dance class we went to twirl and whirl.

She did have her leotard under all of those clothes, but she had no interest in taking off her pants that matched Miss Helen's or her purple shirt. That meant less work for me, so I wasn't about to put up a fight. No sir.

I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing up the Hanukkah wrapping, organizing the Christmas gifts so that I can start wrapping them, and beginning to fill out my own Christmas cards.

Of course it was only after I addressed all of those envelopes that I realized two things:

1. My cards are 5" square but the photos I printed are 4 x 6.  I didn't think that even Calculus could save me here, so I turned to the interwebs for the answer to my prayers. Never one to disappoint, Facebook offered many a (ridiculous) solution. It remains to be seen if any of them pan out.
2. I used a red sharpie to address the envies, but the inside of the card is red, too. Now I have to change markers. This messes with my slight stationery OCD. I'm trying not to think about it anymore. Not having a lot of success with that to be honest with you.

For dinner last night I made one of Drew's favorite meals: StoveTop Chicken and Green Bean Casserole or as I like to call it: One Big Pile O'Mush. Not my favorite. So tonight, I decided that I'd make something I like. Roasted Onion, Kielbasa and Potatoes. Mmm.  Don't worry, it had a side of Dijon sauce to make Drew happy.

Then it was time to light the Menorah and open some of those presents I just wrapped. Toy packaging frustration quickly ensued. For instance, is it really necessary to sew Barbie's hair together with plastic?

I mean really Mattel? Really?

And last but not least, I spent some quality time creating works of art with my two little future Warhols.

If you'd like to purchase one, y'all just let me know.  I hear the Crazy Mama Series is going to be huge.

Because Gran Wondered What Happened to Pretty Mellon

Gran was not what you could call thrilled by my last post. She wants to see pretty photos of me, and you all know how much I like to please. So, here you go Gran:

Pair a plaid shirt with a blinged out tank underneath then throw on a grandpa cardi, skinny jeans, and boots and you've pretty much got my fall uniform. Easy, comfortable and it just screams "Welcome Crisp Weather!" right?

The key is to throw in enough girly pieces to make sure no one actually confuses you with her Grandpa. Observe:

Why yes, that is a disco ball around my neck. Doesn't get much blingier than that, now does it? Am I pretty now, Gran?

Attention Target Shoppers

Fashion Emergency in the Shoe Department--we have a confirmed Person of Interest(POI):

Suspect is with an accomplice--be aware he has a target on his chest. Proceed with caution. 

Perp has also been known to impersonate Shiloh Pitt.

We must impress upon the public that our POI believes herself to be charmed and fabulous--do not attempt to in any way to alter her outfit. To do so would surely lead to dire consequences at the highest decibel level.

PS--clean up in Aisle 3.

Mellon in Oz

I think most moms would agree with this statement: "I want to look stylish and put together, but I don't want to have to think too hard about it." Right? Now, I'm not talking high-fashion, land-in-the-pages-of-Vogue stylish. No, what I'm talking about is looking stylish enough to feel confident that no one is whispering about my lack of fashion sense as I chase my kids all over the playground. The solution I have found is this:

A neutral base. I tend to lean toward the grey spectrum, but I thought I'd switch it up a bit for this post and go with navy blue instead. I am a wild child. So this outfit is pretty simple: tank, short-sleeved cardi-type shirt, jeans and flats. Perfectly presentable. This is where you start--or even where you end if it's been one of those days where you were lucky to even get to brush your hair. But, maybe you don't want to be quite so plain jane. Maybe you want to add a little personality all the while keeping in mind that caveat of not having to expend too much brain power to get there. This is where the statement accessory comes in. It's all a matter of how far you want to take it:

Maybe you just want a small pop of color like these red flats and a dainty gold charm necklace. Or are you feeling a bit bolder? Click your heels three times...

Simply throwing a cap on my head makes the look feel like it has more depth. But perhaps you're not really a hat person.  Try this then:

A solid color scarf and heels--ideal for walking down the yellow brick road. Too warm for a scarf?

Try a brightly colored necklace instead. I could go on and on, but I think you can see how the statement accessory can liven up your daily uniform. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't warn you that the statement accessory works best as a single entity. Things can get messy when you try to make all of them play together. Then you end up with an ensemble that even the most brainless of us would know to avoid:

I think I better get to clicking those heels again.