Things I am. In a song.

do y'all remember this song from the 90s?  Meredith Brooks.  Homegirl is a Gemini. like me.  'nuff said.

Over thinking?

I tend to over think things sometimes. Or maybe I don't - maybe I think about them just enough. On my way home from work today I heard an interview on NPR (transcript available here) about the new Pixar movie, Brave.

The story starts with some sounds from a 4 year old girl's princess themed birthday party, with the reporting interjecting, "If you want to sell something to little girls right now, chances are you'll slap a princess on it. Disney princesses in particular work as the engine of a massive marketing campaign that fuels a $4 billion industry." They then interview Peggy Orenstein, author of a wonderful book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter, who shares the following ideas:

"We feel like it retains or reinforces an innocence in little girls in a world that is feeling increasingly threatening and sexualizing of little girls," she says.

But Orenstein argues that the emphasis on beauty in princess culture doesn't protect little girls. Instead, she says, it primes them and puts them "on this sort of trajectory that [goes] from Disney princess at 3 and a full complement of Lip Smackers at 4 and Keeping Up with the Kardashians at 7 and America's Next Top Model at 11."

Orenstein points out that linking girls' development to appearance has been repeatedly shown to put them at risk for mental health issues such as depression and low self-esteem. 

To which I find myself nodding in agreement. If we are friends, you know I like to cover myself head to toe in hot pink, and believe that glitter makes everything better. So in theory, I should be in LOVE with princesses, but instead, I cringe when I see a young girl playing with them, for reasons explained by Peggy above. What do you think about princesses? Am I over thinking this? Or they a harmless obsession for young girls or does it limit their imagination and lead to self esteem issues? Or, is the whole issue more gray than black and white?  

Happy Birthday Trixie!!!

Today is Trixie's birthday. And because I think she is so fabulous, I thought I would let you all in on some of the reasons why she is such an awesome friend.
1. Trixie is a kind person. She cares about people, and it's obvious that she tries to be a good person. I often get "just want you to know I'm thinking about you" text messages, care packages in the mail, encouraging facebook posts, and thoughtful gifts.
2. Trixie feels deeply. About a lot of things, but her ability to really feel is one of the first things that I really loved about her. I also feel things deeply and I don't feel so crazy when we can talk about things.
3. Trixie is accepting of people, and gives the benefit of the doubt. She doesn't judge, and realizes that there are different perspectives in the world besides her own.
4. Trixie has awesome style. We both share a love of Sephora, but more than that, Trixie is a classy lady.
5. Trixie is smart. She knows a lot about a lot of different things. And more about celebrity gossip then I ever will.
6. Trixie is a fabulous cook, bakes delicious treats, and is a master bread maker.
7. Trixie is a great mom. She has really smart kids that ask questions constantly, but she patiently interacts and encourages their thinking and creativity.

So happy birthday Trixie! You are fantastic!

Asian vs technology

I believe the universe has been gunnin against me this week.  Punishing me for turning 31.  Or maybe just because.  This week I managed to break 2 pieces of advanced technology: apple ipad and sony cybershot.

Oh Apple.  Why make a product that costs so much but can break at the drop of a dime?  Not really the drop of a dime, more like the drop of the phone on top.  iPhone vs iPad.  Who won?  iPhone.  my gimpy, wifi-less, blacked out screen iPhone 3gs.  yes.  3GS!!!!  sad sad day.  i tell my hair stylist, mickey, "i wanted to tell the apple person that IF their product had been in fact made in japan and not CHINA, the product would not have broken as easily".  my people are geniuses.  (no, i am not racist against chinese people, just the inferior products made in the country)

I accidentally washed my camera.  in the washing machine.  how'd it get in there?  it's called i dump out the contents of my purse onto my bed and then remembering i needed to wash the sheets and i throw off the visible items onto the floor and somehow the camera remained.  sheets, tide pack, gain scent thingies, detergent, cycle set, door shut.  start.  then i hear clunk, clunk. hmmm... too loud to be the tide pack..... let's check it out.  pause wash cycle.  stick hand in.  dig around soapy wet sheets....  i find it.  what is it?!  SHIIIIIII!  camera.  into a bag of rice it went.  

i'll keep y'all posted on the status of my repairs.  fingers crossed.  and no more asians vs technology.  we love technology just as much as kip loves lafawnduh.  

Trends in motherhood

I really despise the word "trendy".  It's so 90s, Sweet Valley High era.  But trends are a regular thing.  I like trends, just not being one.  Make sense?

Mothers or those on their way into motherhood are not exempt from trends.  In fact, I think they have big bullseyes on them.  TRENDHOUND!  I'm not writing this post to criticize but merely point out what I've observed.

GENDER REVEAL PARTIES.  Have you been invited to one yet?  I've not.   I know people who have had one thrown in their honor.  Ideas for such parties are taking over my feed on Pinterest by expectant mothers and mini Martha Stewarts alike.  I'm not saying this is wrong but its an odd fascination.  Another excuse to throw a party.  There is usually cake involved (you know who much I LOVE cake) but the concept is foreign to me.  Like baby showers for people who have had kids already.  I get the "let's a throw a shower for Sandy because she has 2 boys and she's finally getting her girl" or vice versa.  Or it's your first baby in a decade.  I'm sorry, but I'm not going to your "I have 6 kids already and every baby deserves to be celebrated" baby shower.  Yes, every baby is special but do you really need another bubble gum pink onesie with "Mommy's little diva" scrawled across the front?  my answer is, no.  sorry, but HELL NO.

But go on with your bad self.  If you want a gender reveal party.  Have one.  Live to have no regrets.  Treat yo self, 2012.  Hell, I'm no one.  Don't listen to this crazy person writing on this blog.

So I guess this means i'm being blacklisted from baby showers and gender reveal parties?  Eh.  I can still have my cake and eat it too.

Descent into the "30s"

After this week when people ask my age range, I can now say, "30s".  Early 30s, but still!  I've heard that many things get better in your thirties. Sex gets better, you become more self-aware, more self-assured.  No comment on the first but i know for sure my metabolism has slowed.  But this not a post about dieting or eating habits in your 30s.  It's more about the awareness/sure-of-oneself side of 30s.  Granted I've only had one full year into my 30s but each day brings more hope, a brighter future.  (Could this just be my meds talking?)  I have learned that it truly is better to have loved and lost than not at all.  Friendships evolve.  Some for the better, a few for the worst.  But I'm ok with that.  I know now i don't need a gaggle of women around me to make me feel secure in who i am or reassure me that my hair looks ok, when it really looks like SH*$.  I am opening myself up to new things, new people. Trying to go outside what's comfortable.

I got a book from the library the other day titled, "Lots of candles, plenty of cake".  They got me at cake.  Occasionally in my "gotta get in and out of the library without leaving a path of destruction in our wake" mode, I grab books just based on titles or how the cover looks.  Don't you dare judge me.  You KNOW you do judge a book by its cover.  A book that is bound and has pages with sentences on it, book.  Not people book. ;)  This tactic proves either genius or stupidity, depending on the contents hidden between the cute front cover and the "rave" reviews on the back.  Moving on.  I started a different book written by the author of the afforementioned book and it was hard but a memoir with cake in the title?  Easy.  And it's been delightful.  Even if I've already had to renew it because it's a 7 day book.  I really think I might have adult onset adhd.  Or just a brain that's fried from hearing my name called 20 bajillion times a day and those little people required, no DEMANDING a response.  SO it takes me a little longer to get through a great book than most normal people.  So Anna Quindlen might be my newest hero.  She ties with Peggy Orenstein.  Anna is funny, intelligent and never condescending or rude in her writing.  She lets you know her point without assuming yours is worthless.  I think she might even have taken it into account in her writing.  

So in the book there's a chapter titled, "Girlfriends".  I've only started this chapter but I have already found a gem.  "The older we get, the more we understand that the women who know and love us---and love us despite what they know about us---are the joists that hold up the house of our existence.  Everything depends on them. ....To be a good friend and to appreciate the value of friendship requires honesty and concentration."  (p.28, Lots of candles, Plenty of Cake; Anna Quindlen 2012)  How wise is this woman?!  And I found this book before I descended into mid-life obscurity.  

My point is, I'm expecting my trip into midlife to be full of bumps and tears and the like but I can also expect to grow. The flowers of my tree with become more beautiful and intoxicating with each passing year and decade.  Here's to lots of candles and plenty of red velvet cake.  

PS-those of my  friends who might want to read the previously mentioned book, hold off.  if i've missed your birthday recently or you have one coming up, hold off.  you *might* be getting it for your birthday.  xo

Summer trends

colour, yes COLOUR is over taking  fashion pages this summer.  what are your thoughts?  are you into the colored jegging fad (i own 6 pairs from tangerine to green and everything in between) or just adding punches of colour in your wardrobe with fun belts or cool nail colors?

you can check out my spring colour favs on my pinterest.

http://pinterest.com/trixiejunebug/summer-colour/