My wardrobe and a serious concern

A while back I decided to shop around a little bit for some work clothes. I didn't want to spend a lot, and I wanted some neutral pieces that could be "cuted up" in a bunch of different ways.

I found a few items at the love of my life (or at least Statesboro) TJMaxx. One of the articles I bought was an really cute jacket. It was light, and it had 3/4 sleeves, really thin vertical stripes in white and coral, and was adorned with some really darling buttons down the front.

Brown pants, gray pants, navy pants - it could go with them all and would really bring a casual look together in a nice, professional woman kind of way.

I honestly could see outfit possibilities for days.

Well, as it sometimes goes in the world of High Fashion (or Low Fashion as the case happens to be), weeks passed on and I never wore the jacket. It was not for a lack of trying - many mornings, I would try it on - but it never looked quite right to me.

It fit weird, I started loving the color less and less, and my my - was it just me, or were those buttons growing more gaudy with each passing day!?

I had purchased this jacket with such excitement. And now I couldn't wear it.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

I decided that even though the jacket was $10, I'd take it back to store and get my money back. $10 is $10 and it just so happened at that time, I was interested in purchasing a bathing suit.

So in my mind, it was all working out perfectly because now that money could go towards the suit making it (theoretically) $10 less, and that would make me feel so much better about myself and my purchasing.

And, I reasoned, maybe me feeling better would make me a nicer person, thereby helping others to be nicer, and so on and so on - with the result obviously being complete World Peace.

So really, I had no choice. The world was depending on me.

One day after work, I took the jacket back and headed over to CATO to look at bathing suits.

Imagine my disappointment when I realized CATO doesn't even sell bathing suits. I was starting to wonder if the Wardrobe Fairies were waging a war against me - and then. THEN, I saw it.

It was on the sale rack - hanging, waiting, calling to me.

A flowy black dress, pulling in at the waist just right, with tiny little khaki polka dots covering it from top to bottom. Size? Check. Price? $10. It was a merchandise miracle!

I tried it on, loved it, and decided that the Wardrobe Fairies not only were on my team, they had definitely orchestrated this transaction. They knew how much I'd love the dress and the many, many times I would be able to wear the thing to work and beyond.

So.

That point of that whole story is to share that I am wearing that dress today. It has been a long week, and I decided that in order to get through Friday, I would need to try to produce as much excitement as I could into my daily life.

And what better way to bring joy than the feeling of maximum cuteness?

And for me that involves my cute black dress with some cute black tights (I know it's hot - it's more of a safety measure. I want to keep the eyes of my co-workers from the leg brightness).

But here is the issue at hand.

I have a severe fear connected to dress-wearing at this particular time in my life. Especially with tights.

I can't tell you how often through the day I check the back of my dress to ensure that it is not, how can I put this delicately, "jacked up."

I have am intensely scared that a time will come when I, let's say, leave the bathroom and do not realize that my dress in caught up in the back of the tights. Thus revealing all that is sacred underneath my dress.

Can you just imagine walking through the hospital exposed? Has this ever happened to you?!?

What if my boss or one of our doctors ended up walking behind me?

I'd seriously have to quit.

At least I'd look cute (save the jacked up dress) on my way out. :-)

A Beach Retrospective

I started babysitting for Ashley when Will was at the end of his second month of life and when Brannen was about a week away from 3. Ashley and I bonded quickly in the months following my entrance into their lives.

Looking back, I am not surprised - I think such bonds are to be expected when you let God choreograph your relationships. He definitely knew what he was doing when he paired up that newly single mama of 2 small babes and that college senior with a very open schedule and an automatic adoration for the aforementioned children.

I can't imagine why I liked them so much.


It wasn't like they were cute or anything.


I started keeping the boys in November of 2006 and when summer rolled around, Ashley recruited me to accompany them on their upcoming beach trips. Thus began a new phase in our relationship called, Once You Vacay, You're Here to Stay Stay.

We have laughed harder and had more adventures on these beach trips that I could ever express. More tears were she and more fun was had over the past 3 years' trips than I could have really imagined. They've been crazy, they've been whirlwinds, they've been awesome, and they've been the source of some of the MOST fun we have had.

Well, it is with GREAT REGRET that I was not able to keep tradition alive and go with the fam on either of their beach trips this year (one of which they are at RIGHT NOW - deep sadness).

I am so thankful to have a job and know I am where I supposed to be for the summer of 2009. But I am still sad I'm not with them. To help drown my sorrows, I took a look back through some old pics to try and transport myself back there as much as I could.

2006

Will: 9 months
Brannen: 3.5 years

The year of....

...Waking up to a chunky 9 month grinning at us from the pack and play.


...Getting the 3 year old (who we thought looked SO big at the time) to cheese for the camera (we really honed in on our bribery skills that trip.)


...B learning about decision-making. To jump in or not to jump in? Is the spanking worth it?


It was also the year of...

...Will having a double ear infection with a side of teething.



Most memorably, 2006 was the year of...

...The great night-time southern explosion of 06, compliments of Will. (My pajamas, as well as mine and Ashley's relationship were never the same after that. When you are laying in "the aftermath" of someone else's child, it really catapults your relationship to the next level. I don't think we've ever laughed so hard. Prunes on vacay = Bad Happening)


In the end it was lovingly known as The Year We SURVIVED It.

2007

Will: 1.5 years
Brannen: 4.5 years

The year of....

...Major Brannen cuteness and funniness.


...The Curls making an appearance at the beach for the first time! Not to mention the year of Will being able to walk, talk, have opinions, etc. (Whole. New. Ballgame)


It was the year of...

...B and W offering Ice Cream Eating Tutorials for their family and friends.


...Having a policewoman explain to the boys what happens when you do not follow directions.


...Saving children from imminent death as they tried to catapult themselves off the pier.



It was also the year of....

...Jenn Jenn taking family pics on the beach. (Making 2007 the year of the Ultimate Christmas Card)



I think looking back, we'd all agree 2007 was The Year of Pure Exhaustion on All Levels by All People.


2008

Will: 2.5
Brannen: 5.5

This was the year of...

...2 little fishes swimming around like big boys in the BIG POOL. (Huge milestone)

...Lots of fun pool time with Mama!


This was the year of...

...Miss Lindsay joining the craziness (she actually was there for our inaugural beach trip in 2006 - God love her). We don't know what she was thinking either time, but we were glad each time she joined us because we LOVE "Miss Wincie."


2007 definitely turned out to be the year of....

....Brotherly love.


...Some of the most extreme meltdowns we had ever witnessed in all our days of living.


Later that year, during their family vacation, it was the year of...

...Not so great weather, but lots of fun alternate plans like visiting the mall and riding the carousel (A thrill of epic proportion).


It was also the year of...

...Watching more Spiderman than we believed was humanly possible.


...Getting Brannen to, you know, come out of his shell. Such a shy child.


It was the year of...

...Long days on the beach playing, digging, boogey boarding, and hugging up on our best friends.


It was the year of pure, unadulterated beach joy.


And it ended up being The Year We Realized it Gets Better (easier, more interesting, more fun) Every Year.

******

I am so sad I'm not there this time, but I am totally planning on 2010 being The Year Jenn Jenn Returns!

I'm disturbed.

Missing: Cardigan

Color: Grassy Knoll
Origin: Old Navel
Last Seen: 6+ months ago
Personal message from Cardigan's family: Please come home soon. There is no limit to the amount of outfits you can be added to. This makes you invaluable in the eye of this beholder.
Reward: Hug

Missing: Dress

Color: Midnight Ebony
Origin: TJMaxxalaca
Last Seen: May 30, 2009 at Mel's wedding (note: dress not shed AT wedding)
Personal message from Dress' family: Where in the world did you go? You were on a hanger one day and gone the next. My tights and my work wardrobe are lost with out you.
Reward: 2 Hugs (I really love that dress)

Missing: Cardigan2


Color: Creamed Corn
Origin: The Wallymarts
Last Seen: Unknown
Personal message: I am sorry I forgot that I lost you until the other day. The time I didn't realize you were gone has only intensified my quest to find you, wear you, and never lose you again. Word.
Reward: High fiver

Missing: My Sanity

If you have any information on the whereabouts of these wardrobe items or my mind, please contact me at seriouslywherearemyclothes@ineedthemback.com

The Prince

Look who's 29 years-old today!


There is an infamous video that is hidden within the depths of my parents' house from one of my brother's birthday parties.

He was probably turning 11 - making his sister the (very cute and not annoying at all) age of about 8.


(This was not the birthday, just for the record - I generally wore pumpkin suits only on Halloween.)

On that particular birthday, he had invited a small group of boys over for food, cake, and fun.

If you watched the video for very long, you'd most certainly hear my father's voice ring out from behind the camera. You'd see my mother as she scurries around organizing the food and the fun. You'd see me (wearing orange and white gingham shorts with some random t-shirt) frolicking around in the middle of all the party-goers.

You'd also see the faces of the boys - all of whom were obviously pumped to celebrate their bud, while simultaneously wondering why the baby sister got a party invite.

And about 30 or so minutes into the home movie, Matthew and all of his friends gather around the coffee table.

The upcoming scene? Present Opening.

(It was supposed to be the highlight of the party.)

(Not if the little sister had anything to do with it.)

If you watched the video, I'm sure you'd smile and laugh - the antics of tween boys, Deb's perm, Alan's witty comments from the helm of the video camera - all very entertaining.

Unfortunately, what you'd also surely notice is a high-pitched voice overriding all that you hold dear about the video.

"Maaaaaaa-ttttthhhhheeeeeeeeeww!!!!" rings out from the scraggly blonde - the shriekiness reminiscent of an unwelcomed bird outside your window on a Saturday morning.

What did I want? I have no idea. If I were a betting girl, I'd say it was for a little thing called attention. What baby of the fam doesn't thrive on it?

And was it really my fault if I had a point of interest to share about one or two (or every) present the poor boy opened?

"MAMA!" Matthew pleaded with our mother after he couldn't take it anymore (approximately 20 seconds). She understood his encrypted message and instructed me to bring it down a couple of notches by saying, "Jenna Babe, please."

Even at such a young age, I could interpret her encrypted message.

It read: For the love of all things birthday - PLEASE HUSH.

I'm sure I quieted down for as long as I could (approximately 20 seconds), and the video wore on until all the candles had been blown out and the Matthew-man was appropriately celebrated.

We do like him around here. Especially this annoying little sister of yesteryear.

I haven't seen that infamous video in years, but we still talk about it - and laugh about it - to this day.

It's hilarious to us now - mainly because my voice is no longer high-pitched, I no longer aggravate my brother to the ends of the earth and back, and because the intensity by which I annoyed my brother back then is now matched only by the love we now share (as big ol' 25 and 29(!!!!) year-old adults).


Happy Birthday, Brother! I couldn't have picked one any better than you. :-)

(And again, my apologies for that whole bday party of 1991 thing.)

No pictures - for which you'll thank me

Throughout the day on Thursday, I kept thinking to myself, "I feel weird."

Couldn't put my finger on it.

After I ate supper that night, my finger started zeroing in on the situation at hand. And it wasn't pretty.

Call it "eating something bad" or "24 hour bug" or "will I ever not be repulsed by food again?" - but whatever it was, I was left to wonder Is this the end?

I got up on Friday determined not to let it take me down for the day.

It is way too early in the work world to be calling in sick, I thought to myself.

But, it only took about 30 mins to realize whatever little friend was making waves in my stomach needed some more time to, ahem, make it's way out.

Lovely. Slash nasty.

Work was called, apologies were made, and thanks were given (from my co-workers to me for not bringing the yuck into their presence). Saltines were bought, blankets were gathered, and into the recliner I went for the rest of the day.

It actually really was lovely. Brought back good memories. Minus the gastrointestinal woes.

(P.S. When I first typed that word I spelled it "gasterointerological." Um - not quite there, Jenn.)

Thankfully, as the day progressed, so did my health, and by the end of Friday I was feeling much, much better. For this I was very thankful.

(Not trying to be picky, but I'd rather not spend my highly anticipated 2 days of freedom miserable, if at all possible.)

When the clock struck 11pm that night, I retired to my bed (that lays on the floor due to an unfortunate bed collapse). My resting place being so close to the earth did not deter my eyes from staying closed til 11am the next morning.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Gotta enjoy it when I can, while I can.

The rest of the day....let's see, what did I do?

Oh yes, there was...

Lay out contemplation (the heat beat and deterred me, my skin regrets to inform you)

Computer action (caught up on blogs, researched useless information, wasted brain cells on various youtube videos)

A book was read (Memory Keeper's Daughter - thanks to Bri T. was the loaner)

Food was eaten (I was glad to know that my stomach and I were friends once again)

Clothes were washed and dried (and this is where I'd say hung up, but you know...2 out 3 ain't bad)

Today I woke up 100% my old self, which was good because I was in need of some churchin.

(Although my prayer life had reached an all-time high Thursday night when the Nasty swooped in. Funny how that works).

After church I went to eat with some friends TFran and Matt, then came home to figure out how in the world to spend the rest of the day.

Just as I began to contemplate, Bon Qui Qui rang out on my phone (she's my text message ringer, although will be changed AS SOON as I can remember how to do it. BQQ embarrasses me in public every day).

Turns out, it was TFran texting me to let me know she was chillin at Marsha's pool if I wanted to come (the Hagans were laking it).

That sounded perfect, so I let the sun make-out with my skin for a while.

Get it? My skin was getting sunkissed?

(Why is this post so gross today?)

After I could stand the heat no more, we called it quits, and I came home. I laundered some more clothes and am currently settling in for a little Sunday night TV.

(On deck - Next Food Network Star. In the hole - Army Wives.)

It was not really a weekend for the memory books, but one in which I am thankful for nonetheless.

Indeed, it started off dicey. But I have to say - it's ending quite nicely.

:-)

A table full of Aces

On Tuesday evening, 6 ridiculous people gathered for a card game experience, the likes of which none of them had ever experienced.


The name of the game cannot be revealed because the author of this post does actually know the name. And she can't tell you how to play it because the rules are complicated, and she definitely did not master them - which her final score showed.


But, despite the diversities she faced on the score sheet and the amount of times she had to proclaim, "It's FINE, people. I am learning by error!" to all of those who looked on her with pity, great fun was had by all.

Marlee was there. She provided score keeping, funniness, and a safe place to lean on when the girl on her left doubled over with loud, obnoxious laughter at the antics of her fellow competitors.


Marlee's sweet friend, Heaven, was there providing moral support as she very studiously worked on some summer homework. We all wanted to be like her and resist the temptations of recreational card games in the face of other more pressing matters we should have been attending to. (Sleep, work, homework, etc.)

You go, Heaven! Love, Us


At one point in the night, a particular person (the one using her camera phone during this whole shindig because she was too lazy to go get her real camera out of the car) tried to take a picture of her hand of cards.

What she didn't realize was that the picture was showing up on the screen that faced all of her opponents.

All of her strategies to win out the window in one fell swoop.

Marsha tried to make her feel better by showing the idiot HER hand.


The idiot was most appreciative.

The author of this story would like to note that she has a competitive nature the size of a mustard seed. It's kind of like Faith.

Except, unlike Faith where a mustard seed is an adequate amount, you really need more in the area competitive natures should you want to not shock those around you with how BADLY you can strategize and lose.

Marlee, for example, had a hard time taking it all in. She gave this look of wonder to her buddy many times throughout the night, as if to say, "Are you really this bad at this game?"


Why yes. Yes she was.

Some people, on the other hand, did a little better in the winning department. In fact this lovely lady in blue, pictured below, took home the gold that night - facing off with her friend Tara who narrowly escaped a victory.


In card games, spelling out your first initial with the cards is equivalent to a victory lap.


If she won, why was Marsha crying????


Oh. Not crying. Just putting poker chips on her eyes. That was going to be our second guess.


"It's my POKER FACE," she shared.

Clay got in on the action as well. Say it with me now - NOT. RIGHT.


This is when things started spiralling downward, as others in the group started busting out THEIR talents.




And, it was pretty much over at that point. The clock neared midnight, and people started getting delirious.


Perhaps the most delirious comment came when The Girl Who Has a God-given Knack for Losing Card Games told Marlee she really thought she played well and really had a shot at winning next time.


Either way, it is believed that - win or lose - all those involved that night would gladly gather around the table again ANY time for another game. :-)

Cause I eeeaat at Suuuuuuuubway

My girl Kelly sent me a link to this video earlier, thus making my day.

Have ya'll heard I enjoy Subway? Yeah...just a lil bit.

I have always thought meeting my future husband at Subway would be extremely hilarious/romantic.

Yes (future) children. Your Daddy had me at "banana peppers."

Who knows if this dream shall ever become a reality, but I think this video reinforces that the goal should definitely be meeting Mr. Right, you know, IN LINE at Subway - as opposed to falling in love with the sandwich artist behind the counter.

Although I think the boy featured below and I would be FAST friends. He makes me LOL in a serious, way-too-loud-for-human-ears kind of way.

Enjoy!