Weekend Style: The Best Kind of Exhaustion

As I put together the pictures from this weekend, I got tired just remembering. But it was the best kind of weekend. H and I had a solid date night, we had lots and lots of family time, and Mama got some alone time and some girlfriend time.

Now I need a nap.

1. Friday night, I used that sparkly liquid liner in one of my last birchbox deliveries. It was KISS/Motley Crue, after all. 2. KISS. 3. Ready for a Saturday morning swim.

1. The artist at work in her studio. 2. Mama time = new makeup, including 2 new Bobbi Brown red lipsticks. 3. Neon pink patent Sperry heels I tried to convince my girlfriend to buy at Loehmann's because they weren't in my size.

1. My girlfriend and I guffawed over The Most Absurd Label Ever. 2. Gold sequins (and the wrong undergarments). 3. Soft ballerina sparkle (that I wore to the show later that night with a New Red Jacket).

1. Gap 1969 ankle zipper legging jeans in tomato. Size 6. 2. A fantastic show, and humongous pride (Sheila was one of my dearest friends. She was the best. By far.) 3. Sunday morning.

1. Peach and blueberry picking at our favorite Virginia outpost, Hartland Orchard. 2. Stopping to smell the petunias in Middleburg, VA. 3. New skinny finds, old favorites that fit again, and a couple of pair I'm really hoping a good tailor can save.

The Big Climb: What Made It Into My Closet (or in a shopping bag on the chest in my bedroom because I haven't managed to put them away yet)

As promised, here's what I did buy in my 3 hours, 4 stores whirlwind tour of Chevy Chase (read: Friendship Heights. Let's get real, people. The places I shopped are not the Shops.)

Loehmann's: I bit the bullet and annoyed the Fitting Room Lady with too many items. I actually had no interest in trying on anything. At all. But I did. And despite the MICHAEL Michael Kors dresses not fitting, and the German-designed (designer totally escaping me at the moment) blouses being wonderfully

structured - but not for my current body, I didn't lose hope. I only ended up with a dark mocha pencil skirt, but I did walk away with inspiration for The Climb.

J. Crew: As I tweeted day of, I was very disappointed that this shop (and I do still need to research whether it's a company-wide policy) doesn't carry anything above a 12. Seriously. That's why I went there. Because I know I can get well-tailored, good quality, classic clothes in sizes that fit. In my bag going out the door? A great black & cream sailor T with shoulder buttons (to satisfy my apparent obsession with All Things Nautical and 4 (cream, grey, black, white) cami/tanks I can wear underneath things like Big Comfy Sweatshirts.

Banana: Ah. Home. Here, my frustration was that the 12s and 14s were not. At all. I'm certainly willing to concede differences in cut, but really? You know when you start to try something on, get it only so far, then find yourself saying, out loud, "Uh, no"? Yeah, that's what happened with the trousers I tried on. I did, however, walk out with a cute navy ruffle-front T, a pale blue sort of ballet crewneck sweater, and a Wrap Dress That Fits (oddly with no online picture). I have an eternal struggle with any belted dress, the supposedly flattering on everyone but not really wrap dress included. So when I found this graceful cream and navy version in a weighty, elegant jersey, I was thrilled. I haven't worn it yet, but that's just because I can't bring my self to put tights on with it, and, well, sometimes a girl lets things go longer than she should in the winter.

Gap: My two rouched Ts, black knit dress, and poppy dressy T with flowy scarf neck (bought without trying on at the counter) were the only things of interest in the store. Seriously. I find that The Gap ('cause that's it's real name, and I refuse to change it) goes through long periods of Nothing. This is apparently one of them. The store was filled with Bad 80s and Grey. I'm in love with Grey. Love. But this was too much. Entirely too much.

Cafe at Mazza: mango smoothie and spinach and feta croissant to inhale on the way home to take The Beans to the playground

Still to go?

Buy new shoes. I have a Girls' Weekend coming up next weekend here in Jersey. We're planning a trip to the outlets in AC. If I don't find anything there, I'm banking on ginger and simply soles at DSS. All but one of my Go To pairs I scored there at those boutiques.

Get healthy. Getting there. H and I are vegan for Lent. He's Orthodox, and it's the way they do it. So I'm supporting. I'm not strident about it (evidenced by the Break Day today, in which chili and ice cream were both ingested), but I can tell. Even after just a few days, I feel less well having had my Break Day. So back on the bandwagon tomorrow.

Buy a few pieces I love NOW. Started. And still working.

Keep going. Yup. Am still going.

Wishful Thinking: Eyes on the Prize

We've all been through this before. This year, everything fits, or doesn't fit anymore because you're in your "skinny mode." Next year? Not so much.

I can't say "I've tried everything," because I don't diet. Ever. (OK, that two days of the lemon juice + cayenne cleanse I tried doesn't count.) I do try to eat better and exercise more - it's what really works for me. Takes forever, sure, but I'm just not into deprivation. I set a goal, and work my way there. One year, I took inspriation from that old Yoplait commercial and hung a bikini in my singlegirl kitchen (itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow-polka-dot-bikini). It worked.

This year, though, I'm going to use those amazing M Missoni tanks and dresses I spotted at Loehmann's during my Friendship Heights speed shopping afternoon last Friday (3 hours, 4 stores, 4 bags-o-good-stuff - more on that later). They were GORgeous. And perfect for our Take-Vacation-then-Stay-at-the-Beach-and-Work-from-the-Shore month this summer. I almost bought one, even though too small, as a goal. But then decided that wouldn't be a prudent use of funds, just in case.

I can see me working in these...laptop open on the balcony, waves crashing in front of me, can't you?

Now, then...

So the big shopping extravaganzas have been, well, a bust. While I'm the online shopping queen for All Things Children and Household, my personal style shopping has just fallen flat. The Old Navy pleated skirt? Clearly designed for Old Navy's target demographic and not a 36-year-old mama with hips. The fun pink Converse? Grossly larger than life.

In the meantime, I'm cobbling together work outfits from the 2 pair of pants that fit my in-between body, a much-adored but getting raggedy H&M wrap dress, and a couple of tops that I like but...the same three things every day doesn't really work for this girl.

It took getting out with BlueSuitGirl to have a little success. A little. We hit Chevy Chase last Saturday night. Newsflash: stores there close at 8. Really. Very annoying. But Filene's and Loehmann's stay open later, so we tried our patience and came out with a few pieces.

One of my favorite shirts is a lovely grey, pink, and white striped french-cuffed oxford. When I bought it, 100 years ago, I thought Havré Benard was something. Ok, so it's a big conglomerate. But the truth of the matter is, they made a lovely, elegant shirt that makes me feel good. And they've done it again. On top of my new grey Converse (which have become my weekend Go-To shoes, seriously), I came out of Filene's with a sweet but grownup pale plue top. Exaggerated tuxedo ruffles, sleeveless, and tucked in at the waist, it's a top I could wear every day. I can wear it untucked in my uncomfortable Inbetweenness, and it'll still be great when I'm comfortable tucking in again.

Now, blue top and grey sneakers aside, I'm still in desperate need of Clothes That Fit. I'm putting off digging through my "Regular Clothes Box" from pre-maternity. I've searched the web at my usual hunting grounds, but I'm afraid to pull the trigger. What I really need to do is measure me, but...

So in the meantime, I'll fuss every morning that I have nothing to wear and walk out of the house most mornings happy only with my shoes.

And will search again another day.