My husband is trying to find me a present. I know this because he submitted a question to "Ask Ain't No Mom Jeans". I think he thought it would be anonymous somehow. In any case, he was getting desperate. His highly creative Google search of "wife christmas" yielded (in addition to a link to the 1988 Julie Harris movie, "The Christmas Wife") ideas like, "pictures of kids" or "bouquet of flowers". Barf.
But I was surprised at his concern. I am usually pretty predictable, gift-wise. I love all things shiny or sparkly or wrapped in a tiffany blue box with a white bow. I mean, really - any item off of M's holiday accessories post, or even our Perfect Winter Party Shoes, and I'd be delighted. Home run.
But this year, Mike detected something different. Or perhaps he noticed that I already went on a small shopping bender, coming home with fun holiday party items. <<giggle>> In any case, he was questioning his usual methods. Which made me think: What do moms really want for Christmas this year?
I'm not sure if it's the sad state of the economy, or if Raines' turning two (and acting like it), or my husband's crazy schedule (work + school), but life has felt a bit hard lately. I find myself already looking to the new year and wanting to do things differently. Simpler, somehow. I want to spend more time with family, but at a slower pace. Think long walks with self-brewed coffee instead of crazy running from place to place and hitting Starbucks drive-thrus.
I don't think I'm alone. So this year, my Christmas picks reflect this need to slow down, to simplify.
...And to wear something pretty everyday. Because some things never change.
Gifts To Help Get Us Out Of The House
It's one thing to get out with the kiddos when the sun is shining
and shoes are optional. It's a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME when it's
freezing, and your two year old not only doesn't want to wear shoes,
but throws a screaming fit over long-sleeve anything. Not to mention
that once you've stuffed the little screamer into his snowsuit and are
now hauling him football-like down the stairs, you yourself drenched in sweat....by
the time you get outside (and cooled off), you realize that the hat
your grabbed for yourself is the one with the moth holes, and that you
are missing a glove. Not that this has happened to me (cough), I'm
just sayin. In addition, over the last two years, my diaper bag has
mysteriously gotten heavier. It's the same bag. With the same stuff.
It just bugs me more.
So here are a few items are help ease this process. Nothing but
time will cure the kiddo's long-sleeve phobia, but here are a few
goodies that inject a little bliss into the "we're having fun,
dammit!!" process.
I've been coveting the Lug Life Glider Sling Bag, currently on sale at ebags.com for $50. This is the perfect long-walk diaper bag. It sits close enough to your body to feel like a backpack, but is urban enough to look cool. It comes in a wide range of colors, including ocean (pictured).
I'm also in love with J.Crew's Merino Trapper Hat, $45, and their Ribbed Merino Glittens, $24. They are soft, warm and cute. Cream may not be the most practical color, but it's beautiful and snow-bunny-like. And they are just expensive enough to feel like a gift. (I think nothing of dropping $200 on jeans, but a $50 hat? Whoa!)
Lastly, if your lady sports a ponytail even half as much as I do, try Juicy Couture's Faux-Fur Earmuffs, $55 at Neiman Marcus. The key with earmuffs is that you want to choose a color OPPOSITE to her haircolor. Blond? Choose a darker earmuff. Brunette? Go light. Else, they blend in too well and from a distance it will look like she has hair spurting from her ears.
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