She Said Whaaaat About My Heels?

So today while at a mom get together we got a talking about clothes and shoes (naturally) and I brought up a memory that I thought I'd share with you all. 

During my last few weeks of working at my day job I met and had good conversations with a few other moms that happened to work on my floor. It always happened to be in the bathroom or on the way out/in but it was a pleasant four seconds of catching up on motherhood. 

One of the moms was of a baby girl who is only a few months older than my son and worked at the showroom right across from mine. Being the extremely competitive person I am I always asked what her daughter was doing to make sure I encouraged my son to do the same and be an overachieving baby. If her daughter was crawling, my son was almost crawling. If she was standing, he was standing higher. If she had 2 teeth he had 4 (trust me...there are ways..bruahahaha. I kid) 

Anyway one day this particular mom stopped me and said, "You know I have a question for you. How is it that you still wear high heels? Shouldn't they have been retired by now?" This question both perplexed me and insulted me. If there is anything that anyone knows about me is this: Momma loves her shoes. 

Firstly I did customer service and had to be a representative for my three sales associates the job definitely called for corporate attire (and it was owned by Kohler and they do not play with their image). Secondly...momma loves her shoes!! There was no notice on the back of my son's birth certificate that said that after he starts to walk that I need to donate my heels. 

Now I will admit, running after a baby in heels...it hurts! And I don't do kitten heels. I'm talking full blown four inch, "I thought you were shorter?" heels. While flats can be more comfortable I always feel like I'm falling through the floor! And to boot I have such pretty shoes! So many colors, so many prints and I'm supposed to pack them away because I'm a mom? Preposterous!

Is this why the phrase "Your momma wears combat boots!" comes from? 

So after I came out of my shock, I took a look at what she was wearing...and then it all made sense. Now just as a disclaimer, I do not like to judge people. You can do whatever you want, live however you want, dress however you want. It's your life, go for it. But...when someone starts to judge me it kind of puts things in a different perspective. Now I'm not saying she was daudy, but she definitely looked...comfortable. Nice loose shirt, loong simple skirt all capped off with a nice pair of what looked like orthopedic shoes. Maybe she had a bad back or bad knees, but these shoes definitely looked like...well....grandma shoes!

Do you remember what grandma shoes look like? No? Well here is a subtle reminder:

BAM!

What? You don't like tan? Well then here you go...

And just looking at this ad makes me feel old...

I'm sorry but NO ONE looks forward to wearing grandma shoes...not even grandma's! Not even in this poem. If leaving the heels behind determines how much into Mommyhood I'm getting then I'm losing and I've never like losing so much!! And let it be said, I am not knocking the elderly or women who like to dress like the elderly. I'm merely stating that you will not see my ass in ANY of the shoes above. Ever. Ever ever ever.

Wow, all this talk about shoes makes me want to buy a new pair! Anyone want to go shopping??

 (Mariah Carey's shoe room and my dream closet. I don't like Mariah Carey anymore but I love this room)

Sex: The Stress Buster

With finals, work, doctor appointments, potty training, and school and just being a mom can cause a lot of pressure and stress. What better stress reliever than with the good old power of sex!

According to an article on About.com, they give examples how sex can help even the most stressed out mom. They list many scientific research about sex, stating that sex and physical intimacy led women to feel less stressed and be in a better mood the next day. Additionally they note that sex can lead to less of a stress response during challenging situations, such as when about to take test.

Aside from these scientific findings, sex has some obvious stress management components. In addition to effectively taking your mind off of your worries for a decent period of time, sex provides some of these other stress management benefits:

• Sense of Touch: Studies show that massage can be a great stress reliever. In fact, we need touch for our emotional health; studies also show that babies who are not touched enough can fail to thrive, and touch continues to be important into adulthood.
• Social Support: People who have a supportive social outlet tend to manage stress better, live longer, and enjoy increased overall health. The type of emotional intimacy that sex can help supply is good for you!
• Endorphins: Sexual activity releases endorphins and other feel-good hormones. 
• Physical Workout: Depending on your level of enthusiasm, you can burn a lot of calories during sex, and gain the stress management benefits of exercise as well.
• Deep Breathing: This deep, relaxed type of breathing relaxes your body, oxygenates your blood and reduces the stress you feel.

Orgasms Good For Your Health

We all know that sex is good but we might have underestimated HOW good it actually is for us. As per this article on About.com they examples of research that has been done that lists the many benefits of orgasms and why we should put them on our "Things To Do" list, no pun intended. Ok...pun intended

• A UK study which looked at the relationship between having frequent orgasms (two or more per week) and mortality in men. At a ten year follow up the researcher found that men who had frequent orgasms had a significantly lower risk of death than men who did not have frequent orgasms. 
• Several studies have hypothesized that hormones released during arousal and orgasm, specifically oxytocin and DHEA, may also have protective effects against cancer and heart disease. 
• Research has also pointed to the sedative and relaxing effect of oxytocin and other endorphins released during orgasm, which may explain why people use masturbation as a way to get to sleep, and why sex is a great way to deal with stress.

It’s also worth pointing out that orgasm and sex play in general can be a wonderful form of exercise. Frequent sex and orgasms can bring with it the benefit of other good cardio workouts. 

Make Your Kid's Room City Savvy

Living in an apartment in the city can be not only costly but you are more than likely subjected to limited space for your family. So how can you make a room stand out without spending crazy amounts of money? Here are some tips how to make a modern kids room creatively and without breaking the break.

Use bold colors

This kids room from Freshome is littered with great ideas for modern kids room. They note that colors like sage green, yellow, red, and chocolate brown can be paired with neutrals white, black or tan to give a modern take on kid’s décor. By using gender friendly colors like this mandarin orange paint with accents of pink keeps it girly without going over the top. Typically using large scale furniture can make a space look and feel smaller but if you only use only a few key pieces they will stand out without dominating the space.

Get the look:

• Buy large bookshelves that are multi-functional
• Invest in a sleek comfy chair

Mix old with new

This kids room from Ohdeedoh showcases a blend of old and new, using modern and simple colors by using the pea green and white and loft bed and adding vintage toys and accents.
Smart Deals on Looks the Kids will Love only at Target.com

Get the look:

• Shelving system is available at Ikea or the Shelving Store (use link below for discount!)
Save 25% Off Storewide During The "Back To School" Sale
• You can get a similar paint color at Glidden
• Purchase simple bins for storage at the Container Store
• Get a cool vintage looking lamp like these from Lamp in a Box

Opt for alternatives to picture frames

By using simple furniture with storage and adding accents to the wall you not only increase the height of the wall but you add an element of originality!

Get the look:

• Invest in a crib with storage at bottom or one that turns into a toddler bed.
• Buy cool wall decals. There are some available at Toys R Us that are a great price!

Air & Water Show Fun!

(It was so hot out it melted the cheese on my sammich. Whoa)

There was so much fun at the Air ans Water Show this year. Although I have lived in Chicago for almost 5 years this was not only my first time but I shared this virgin experience with my sister and with my mini bear!

I think by far my favorite was the Blue Angels. They were awesome! Here is a glimpse of what they did.



I totally suggest it for next year if you happen to be in Chicago.