AM~Erica's Love/Hate Relationship with the Comfort

So anyway...

I have a rule about fashion: If IT LOOKS ADORABLE, COVERS NECESSARY PLACES, delivers some umph, and is comfy, then it's perfect.

There are items of clothing that appear uncomfortable, but they really feel awesome on! Then there's the items of clothing that appear to be super comfy...but it is horrible on: maybe it doesn't fit right, or there's a scratchy seam, or it's been cut wrong. Then there are the items that are so comfy, they are just that: comfy.

There's an article of clothing that is ever popular right now & has been in the last few years. I have had some in my possession for the last several years. I used to get actual use out wearing this piece of clothing for how it was intended to be used. But not so much recently...

Back in the 1940's thru the early 1960's, the typical "modern" housewife seemed to look very much the same:

Of course I'm gonna use a pic of Lucy to illustrate my point!

The same type of circle skirt as/or a shirtdress, an apron & typically sensible shoes (heels or not). And it's always amazing to look at these pics since it was to help women feel pretty while doing their "wifely/motherly duties". Besides maybe some pockets & the apron, not sure how useful the whole outfit might have been.

Fast-forward to the mid 2000's to the present...

Nowadays, the typical "modern" housewife has a very different look:

It's not the circle skirt. It's not the apron. It's certainly not the sensible heels.

Actually, one of my very favorite comedians, Tim Hawkins, probably puts it best in this song:

Yes. This.

And the phenomenon began...and it's slightly contagious!

Now then...I have had about 6 or 7 pairs of yoga pants for several years. I still have most of them. I got my first pair to wear to teach dance in & to wear to work...because we were told that wearing a blazer with them to dress 'em up was completely acceptable. Remember that? Yeah...not so much...

But I did get other pairs, later, to actually wear to yoga class! I really did! And I loved wearing my yoga pants to yoga class.

Then we moved & I was spoiled with an awesome yoga instructor. (If anyone knows what happened to Brenda that used to teach yoga, water aerobics & spin at Legacy in Lee's Summit, please flag me down! I miss her!) I did, however, keep my yoga pants.

You know what? I still have them. I wear them when I lead in a dance ministry...or as pajamas sometimes. But I don't really wear them anywhere else. Not sure why. They are SO COMFY! And they are so easy to put on...and...well...everything Tim Hawkins sung about. Amm-i-rite?

I usually, as a SAHM, wear jeans, or I do try to look decently fashionable. I'm not a typical housewife or pastor's wife (read about some of that HERE), so I'm not usually dressed like one, either.

Then I figured out why I may not jump right into the easy-peasy go-to's...

Many mommies in yoga pants are always on the go! They have so many errands & kiddo things...then food to make, whether for the family, potluck or bake sale...
Then the extracurricular taxi time being put in...

Don't get me wrong...I have several of these things going, myself. But usually not all at once! Until...I put on my yoga pants!!

I'm not kidding! The days when I don't have time to put the effort into wiggling into jeans while dealing with buttons & zippers...I end up putting on the schedule-twising magnets!

When I wear my delightful yoga pants, that's when I have to make an extra trip to one school, then go to another school to get a sick kiddo, which means another trip or two to the store to get an extra OTC med that we didn't already have in the cabinet...then find out another kid is staying after school, so you gotta pick them up while trying to figure out if you can get home in time to get another kid off the bus...on top of squeezing in the errands you had hoped to take care of...but could only do 2 out of the 5 because of the twists & turns of the roller coaster day that you freed up to do by not dealing with the button & zipper of the jeans...cuz you...just...wanted...yoga pants on.

Forget it! I haven't done yoga in too long. I think I'm giving up on yoga pants. Even though I found me a new workout (read HERE for the reminder), it certainly doesn't need the stress of the yoga pants!

I'll save them for when I need to really move (like for dance ministry) or when I just need them for pajama bottoms. No more everyday wearing of yoga pants for me! I can't deal the stress!

...no matter how much my hubby likes seeing me in them...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica: Too Tired Fashionista

So anyway...

As you may know, Teen Girl goes to Crown Center once in a while to go mingle & brainstorm with other YOUNG COTERIE PLAYWRIGHTS. It's a pretty awesome gig.

So, while she goes & bonds with them, I tend walk around & enjoy the shops & views. I've recently been taking The Link (a glassed in walkway) to Union Station, too.

Now then, I love having fun with fashion. And I like to sport something that's a bit eye-catching when I hang out around Crown Center Square. And I start channeling some Tyra Banks & 'America's Next Top Model' when I walk The Link. I always imagine it as some artsy-cool, high-fashion catwalk. And you know I stomp that walkway & strut my stuff thru the glass corridors with the sights of downtown KC surrounding my own fashion show! And probably doing some smeyesing while pounding the catwalk...

Tyra Banks' Smeye

In my mind, I'm some cool high fashion chic that someone in "the biz" should totally be eyeing & saying they would love to throw their lush & crazy fashions on me since I'd be the perfect canvas! You know...a whole street-fashion look that would be over-the-top & rockin'! I'd totally rock whatever look that is!

So...as I'm strutting in my Chiefs-inspired street fashion (cuz they are 5-0 right now, baby! GO CHIEFS!) thru the glass catwalk of The Link between the buildings of Crown Center Square & heading to Union Station, I've got high-fashion on my mind!

The stretch of The Link I like to stomp & strut thru

And artsy view of the inside of my catwalk

I get over to Union Station...and I know it was a total sign! The big, echoy area was closed off due to a covered runway from KC Fashion Week! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout, yo! So, I'm stomping the tiles hard...cuz you know those fashion people were looking at me & thinking that I'm the next big thing...especially for Chiefs colors & everything...

...and I cannot figure out why nothing is happening...

So forget it! I thought I'd take an artsy selfie with some awesome KC scenery...ummm...I think I figured out why no one wanted to stop this train...

I'm all thinking I look all great & uber high fashion. Kinda like this:

Oh yeah...you know that feeling?
But then in reality...I actually ended up looking more like this:

Oh yeah. My outfit was adorable...but I looked like a mom with too little sleep & some mommy hips to match. I don't think anyone from the New York scene...or even the local high fashion scene...would want this worn out canvas.

My runway walk back thru The Link was a bit sadder. I think I lost the strut I was feeling when I thought I looked like a Vogue cover.

I just had a discussion with a friend of mine about the whens & hows of looking pretty. Some do it more often than others, but it does happen. And even if it's a simple detail to a whole outfit, or adding makeup to a new haircut, there are times when it sets a mood & you just feel good about it & yourself!

There's a quote I heard once. It was when I was watching "How Do I Look?" It went like this:

"The most powerful thing in the universe is femininity - and it's free, and you can put it on everyday." ~ Andy Paige

And it's so true! No matter how little, you can make it work! Amm-i-rite, ladies??

So it's nice when you do feel that way. Imagine how sad I was to find out how wilted it actually was!

OK...don't get me wrong, I am not focusing on bad self image! I do think we are all beautiful in our own way. Check out my other posts on it HERE.

It's just that it was a day I thought I was making a fabulous statement...and I was a scary, unretouched version of my hyper-supermodel cover version of what I thought.

*sigh*

Well, at least my hubby loves me. He is MY PRINCE CHARMING after all. He accepts this princess even under the less-than-attractive moments. Even the too-little-sleep-mommy-with-mommy-hips moments.

And that's what actually matters. But I'll still have fun with fashion...I just need to pull back those ideas that Tyra will use me in some glass walkway as a crazy-fashion canvas.

I think I need sleep now...so I'll just dream about it instead...

How I wanna believe I look...

...how I actually look.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Tends to be Ahead of the Curve

So anyway...

With the winding down of the holidays, and we are now in the the cold & chill of winter, I know we are all thinking about & looking forward to one thing: SWIMSUIT SEASON!! Woo Hoo!!!

Wait, wait, wait...wha-WHA???

OK, probably not. And even though I haven't seen any yet, I'm pretty sure there are department stores putting out their cringe-worthy beach-wear displays. *sigh* No wonder so many make new year resolutions to lose weight/get in shape/get healthy. And it hit me just a few short years ago as to why we get this stuff thrust in our faces while we are still enjoying very hearty meals that add to our layer(s) of insulation. It's two words, and it tends to sneak up on us in February or March anymore: Spring  Break. It tends to be a time when older teens & younger 20's decide that they need to travel to warm places & shed a lot of layers & bare a lot of skin. Ick.

Many who participate believe they look so adorable in skimpy anything. Well...even though it's "yes" to a point...that's not what comes to mind for many.

Just note that I have been against that whole baring a lot of skin thing for years. But I'm pretty modest AND have fair skin!

Now, I love to play with clothes, accessories, shoes...and all kinds of trends! I have trademarks of my own. It's just fun. And, with the compliments I get on my outfits & such...I am always covered! Tuck it in, ladies!  You can show off your personality without falling out of your clothing! *face palm* Just cuz you got it, doesn't mean you shouldn't wait (for the right person) to flaunt it. But that's just me.

However, I do end up being ahead of the curve when it comes to some of the fashion stuff...apparently. I don't do "research" anymore. I used to be addicted to the Style channel & wanted to be up on the latest trends & such. But then I decided to break free from that & do what I like, or get inspired by something I see.
Like the flowers in my hair: It started with a silly & fun Hawiian luau themed event. I enjoyed the flower I wore in my hair so much, that I started doing it from time-to-time; it grew more as time went...now it's daily. If not a flower, there is something in my hair. I started that almost 7 years ago...the trend really didn't pick up until about 3-4 years ago. I also wear headbands...and for a while I just started attaching a flower of choice to a headband of choice. About a year after I started that...companies started selling headbands with flowers attached. Interesting...
See? If I like it, I wear it. That's all there is to it. If it looks good & feels good...that's what I go for! Oh...and not falling out of things is a big bonus, too...

This goes for swimwear, too. (You knew I'd get back to this, right?) The more I can cover the better!! If you read my previous swimsuit post RIGHT HERE, you will see what I've been pulling for as my dream swimwear.

So I posted that back in May. Then, interestingly enough...I came across this fairly fitting (no pun intended) article on Yahoo! about swimwear...just read it RIGHT HERE to see what I mean.

Oh man, oh man...if things are going that way...then I have been dreaming of the swimwear fashion...

...Of The Future...

Amm-i-rite?

*shrugs* Or it could just be me. hehe

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica