RealMom.net

The Fashionable WAHM?

I know I’m not the only WAHM out there guilty of this one – I don’t try things on in the stores when I shop. I remember back when shopping was a joyous pastime. Of course, back then clothing fit correctly and I didn’t have to accommodate the C-section tummy, but still, I loved trying things on, finding new outfits and combining looks. Now it’s all I can do to grab something I think is close to my size and when I get a few minutes at home, try it on. If it’s close enough, I go with it. If not, it goes back and more often than not I walk out with something for the little men instead. It’s a good thing they are dressed like little stud muffins – mom is certainly not.

Buying Online
So since I can’t try things on, I did the next best thing that most of us that work online do. I started buying everything online. It’s great. I can order something like Zara clothing or H&M clothing, or go with the staples from Gap or Old Navy and have them delivered to my house. There are always coupons of some sort to cut costs even more and half the time I forget I ordered myself something and it’s like a bonus when I get the package – a WAHM Christmas!

Trying On Clothing at Home
Of course, there isn’t a lovely large dressing room mirror at home, but since I go some morning without even brushing my hair, this isn’t a huge problem for me. I just try things on – if they pinch, they go back to the store. If they fall off me, I might keep them because they make me feel thin, but usually they go back to. The ones that fit get to stay and join my ever- increasingly stylish wardrobe.

And I’m not kidding. My clothing is looking better because I get to shop online without distraction unlike stores where I have so much “help” from little men. I love that the online stores help combine looks for me and I especially love the reviews that tell me things like certain pants run short or small and shirts are particularly thin. Who knows, in another year or two I might be a truly stylish mommy again. I’m not sure I’d even recognize myself, but a girl can dream!

March 23rd, 2010 Posted by Rebecca | Notes from a Real Freelancing Mom | one comment

More Protein for Picky Eaters

As the mother of picky children, I’m starting to get more creative about how I force, er serve, proper nutrients at mealtime. Unfortunately neither of my children eat meat right now, but they will do some serious damage to cheese and milk. But outside of iron concerns, I wonder about getting them other forms of protein to help grow those lovely strong muscles. I’ve actually thought of protein shakes to work in some more nutrients on the sly.

After all, both of my boys are obsessed with Jamba Juice. How tricky would it be to make healthy protein shakes at home just by adding a bit of protein powder (never too much mind you) to a frozen concoction of bananas, strawberries and blueberries? To my way of thinking it would be far easier to do that than force them to eat steak when they are dead set against it.

I’m not sure if the shakes would be a permanent addition around our house, perhaps an afternoon snack or part of dinner at night, but they will at least make me feel better about getting the most important stuff into the kids. I am reasonably sure at some point my little picky eaters will branch back out from pasta and Jamba juice to include real meats again, but in the meantime, I’m not going to knock anything that might make mealtimes a bit easier on all of us.

March 10th, 2010 Posted by Rebecca | Parenting - Freelance Style | no comments