It's okay to look good

Thank you so much for your prayers, e-mails, etc. (I am weeks and weeks behind on responding to e-mails).  So far the very strong antibiotics have kept me from further infections but they leave me worn out and nauseous all day long.  I think it was Vee that asked but... YES... Cipro always knocks me out.

I am trying to catch up on laundry, put meals on the table, and I even baked a cake this afternoon.  It was made with a yellow cake mix but after it cools, I will whip up a homemade chocolate buttercream frosting... no one will care that the cake was not made from scratch with that frosting topping it!  ;)

I enjoyed reading the post Stephanie wrote last week about what she's learned about putting together a wardrobe efficiently and frugally.  I recall a few years ago when money was very tight and she felt guilty about spending anything on her own clothing with growing children at home. 

I reminded her that (whether we like it or not), the world judges us on appearance and with her husband's career responsibilities and the leadership roles they have at church... it is essential to have at least a few good outfits for those times when mommy jeans and a pullover were not enough... although a necessary daily uniform for a homeschooling mom to five... unless you are a jean skirt kinda' lady.  In the summer, I LIVE in jean skirts and short sleeve tops.

I remembered my mother telling me stories of when she was a widow with seven children (before meeting my father), their clothes were threadbare but always clean and ironed.  I never saw Mom leave the house not looking put together even though she never had a large wardrobe (although I'm sure when she was poor and had seven kids at home... she was NOT put together).

Like so many women of her generation, she also had her "hair done" once a week when I was growing up... those were the years when a woman's hairdresser was a member of the family.  When Mom passed away, the man who owned the hair salon where she'd had her hair done since the 1970's asked to do her hair one last time... even though at eighty-five, it was fine and wispy.  :)

Do you ever watch the old movies and come away amazed at the way people dressed then compared to now?  I was recently watching the original Where the Boys Are and had to smile at how "dressed up" the college girls were in 1960!  Another favorite older movie is Three Coins In a Fountain... once again the ladies were beautifully dressed with simple dresses and suits.

Old movies remind me that when I was growing up, one always dressed up if they were going out for an evening... traveling on a plane or train... going to church or a concert or a party at the neighbors... or even meeting the ladies for lunch.  I don't mean glitz and glitter dress up such as for the symphony but a pretty dress, or skirt with blouse and matching sweater, or a pair of nice slacks with a soft pullover.  Sigh...

What am I wearing as I type?  Ummm... sweats and an oversize cable knit sweater... but I'm still spending part of my day on the sofa.  Really.  Honest.

Anyway... Stephanie really is doing a good job at putting together a wardrobe on a budget.  Like me, she also LOVES finding clothes at thrift stores!  But I think the last time she was able to shop a thrift store was when Sarah Clarkson and I were with her and could help keep an eye on the children.  ;)

Stephanie's post can be found... here.