Mommin' It Up!

September 28, 2010

In Which a Tote Bag Tragedy is Averted

I have quite a few nice tote bags from attending conferences. Most of them are Lands’ End bags, which makes them even nicer! But I have one, in particular, that I got as part of my Lands’ End wardrobe for BlogHer ’09 that is my faaavorite. It matches one of my sweaters that was also part of said wardrobe. So imagine, if you will, my chagrin when I found out that SOMEHOW an incontinent sippy cup full of chocolate milk had made contact with my fave bag!! Leaving me with this:

Oh, isn’t that LOVELY?? I was SO PLEASED. Let’s get a closer look:

Like how it’s nice and chocolately in the stitching there? Arrgh!! And did I mention when I discovered that my favorite bag had been, um, “redecorated”, the stain was TOTALLY DRY? I have no idea how long it had been like that.

Of course, I totally freaked (because that is how I roll) and assumed my favorite bag would be forever scarred. BUT before I gave up hope, I decided it was time to try the “stain clean” setting on my Frigidaire Affinity Washer.

I poured some Tide directly on the stain, put the bag in, hit the Stain Clean setting, and held my breath.

And guess what?? IT ALL CAME OUT!!! A miracle!

And guess what ELSE? I am big dummy and did not check the inside pockets on the bag. And there was a PEN inside. So, although my bag was devoid of re-calcified chocolate milk, it was now covered in fresh ink stains. (I was too distraught at this point to go get my camera and take a picture. I wanted to get that baby back in the washing machine!)

I made sure all the pen parts were out of the bag and the washer, and I again put Tide directly on the stain. And again hit the Stain Clean setting and held my breath.

ALL THE INK CAME OUT! I don’t think I have successfully gotten an ink stain out of anything in my LIFE. I was so excited!!

And now, my favorite Lands’ End bag has been restored to it’s former glory. See?

Thanks to my Frigidaire Affinity washer and Tide, and DESPITE my best efforts to sabotage myself, my bag is as cute as ever! Woot!

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This post was written as part of my participation in the Frigidaire Test Drive mom program with Mom Central. I received an Affinity Washer & Dryer and I’m loving blogging about my experiences with them!

September 27, 2010September 26, 2010

Crumbs under my coffee table

Wednesday night Emily and I had an interview with a local tv station (it won’t air for a few weeks. So, try and hold your overwhelming excitement!) We had the interview at my house because they wanted to see my fabulous new Granite Transformations kitchen. I REALLY did not want to do the interview at my house, as few things stress me out more than house cleaning. But, I sucked it up, and spent most of the week cleaning, and Wednesday, my house (the lower floor anyway) was looking pretty nice. (Of course it looked like crap again by Thursday at noon. Arrrgh!!)

After Emily and I were each interviewed, the reporter wanted to get some background shots of us just hanging out, chatting, using our laptops (which was not. awkward. AT ALL!) They wanted us to sit on my couch, but to get a good angle, they needed to move my couch a couple feet away from the wall. Which meant moving my coffee table a couple feet as well.

My coffee table. Which I had been too tired, worn out, etc. to move a few feet and sweep under when I was cleaning.

I knew this was not going to be pretty. And sure enough, as we scooted the coffee table over a couple of feet, all the STUFF underneath it was revealed: cheerios, cracker crumbs, puzzle pieces (so THAT’S where those were!) and enough of Sophie’s plastic toy food to feed a family of four for a week.

It was *mildly* embarrassing.

But so totally indicative of my general state of being.

Because I always have crumbs under my coffee table. I am hopelessly flawed. Even when I take painstaking care with my outward appearance, what exists underneath is perfectly imperfect. A few wavy hairs I didn’t quite get straight, that super-fuzzy section on my shinbone I can never get shaved, the stretch marks and cellulite that no shapewear can erase.

And then, there’s the inside. The woman who is too quick to anger, who gets frustrated over the little things, whose first response to a stubbed toe or to bumping my head on the car for the thousandth time while buckling a kid in their car seat is a bad word (whether it actually makes it out of my mouth or not).

I will never be shiny or glossy. If I appear that way, it is an illusion.

This post has been rumbling around my head since Wednesday night. And then, at church last night the pastor preached on this verse. About a great treasure inside a less-than-stellar vessel. And I knew I had to write it.

Sometimes my weaknesses frustrate me, and there are many things that I do need to improve about myself. (Especially my messiness. Really, you cannot walk through my bedroom right now. I can’t find anything, and this is a problem I have created for myself!)

But there is also joy in the weaknesses, in the imperfections, in those areas of my life that allow others to see me. Cracked, jacked up, janky, and real. Something good inside packaging that has hit a few bumps on the way to it’s final destination, like that box you get in the mail that looks war-torn on the outside, but has a wonderful surprise within.

So. I have lots of crap under my coffee table. What’s under yours?

September 26, 2010

Pretty in the City: Mary Kay Metro Chic Collection

If you’ve read this here blog for any good length of time, you know I loooves me some makeup. And I’m a little vain. You also probably know that I big puffy heart Mary Kay makeup. Nothing else touches my face! So I was excited to review Mary Kay’s new glam fall limited edition products – the Metro Chic Collection. It includes some sparkly, “baked powder”, some gorgeous eye glimmers that glide on like a slim lipstick, a gorgeous liquid eyeliner, some super-shiny lip lacquer, some HAWT nail colors, and a super-cute clutch to keep it all in!

09120136GB_062_Dusk_bakedpowder_001 — Baked Powder in Dusk

09120136GB_065_Audacious_vinyllip_001 — Lip Vinyl in Audacious

Emily organized a great blogger event at an awesome restaurant, Chi-nattis, last Thursday, so I decided to try out the Mary Kay Metro Chic collection for this special night! I wore the eye glimmer in Disco (a silver), the liquid eyeliner in purple (which I LOVED. I had never worn liquid eyeliner before, much less PURPLE, and I adored it!!), the baked powder in Dusk, and the lip vinyl in Attitude. Here’s how my look came out:

(is it just me or is my NOSE beginning to look PREGNANT?? Gah!!)

The eyes. I really love how they came out! I wasn’t daring enough to do the purple and blue eyeshadow for this low-key night with the girls, but I’ve worn them individually since then and they are so pretty! The silver “Disco” color was perfect for what I needed that night.

I only wish I’d had time to do my nails with some of that fab nail lacquer, but I ran out of time.

So, I am going to give the Metro Chic collection two thumbs up! I love having a bit of drama and glimmer on my face and this collection certainly provides it. And the clutch that holds it all? To die for! See?

mkmetroclutch — Metro Chic Collection Clutch

This Limited Edition collection is only available during October and November, so call your Mary Kay lady and getcha some Metro Chic! If you don’t have a good one, use mine! She is pretty much the best ever, and she ships for free even if you don’t live in Ohio.

Thanks Mary Kay for the awesome new makeup! I am loving it!

Disclosure: Mary Kay gave me this makeup to review. That is all!