Parenting with Love and Logic — This is really making me evaluate how I am raising my children, but in a good way.

Catching Fire – by  Suzanne Collins. This is the sequel to The Hunger Games, which I absolutely loved. This was good, but just a continuation, a tease, now I want more.

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore. This book was the critic’s darling, but I found it lacking. Reviewers called it a perfect portrait of American life after 9/11 and it did have some insight into life during that time period, but there were several very poignant moments during the book that were just dictated in a blase manner — a child being killed, another child in foster care being tossed from home ot home, the death of the protaganists’s brother — that were just told in a very matter-of-fact way and didn’t move me emotionally in the least bit. I really didn’t care for the book.

Now, on to what I still need to read. I think I’m going to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo next because I have been looking forward to do so and also because it is borrowed and I need to return it. I also will work on finishing the parenting with love and logic book.

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman — a friend loaned me this one

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson— My SIL loaned me this. I’ve been excited to read it for awhile. Misadventures with Andi also just posted on this.

Reading Lolita in Tehran — another thrift store buy I just barely began before I got a library book in. So far, it seems like it is going to be really good.

The Nautical Chart by Arturo Perez-Reverte — I adore this author and snatched this up at the thrift store.

In my DVD Player

We finished up the very short DVD series on Dune. Ahhh, I need a new movie to watch — maybe a new series …. or maybe now that is spring, I’ll get back to my routine which includes very little tv or movies and lots of time outside and reading!

Not-A-Cent-In-Lent

I fell off the wagon a few times during the Not-A-Cent-in-Lent time but I still found that it was really valuable and worth doing and I hope to do better next year.

I made a list of items that I needed and wanted during this time. I’ve ordered a few of them already, including some new underwear, a new bra, a new pair of flat sandals, a pair of jeans and a black summery blouse.

I feel very good about buying these “basics” I had a long time (40 days) to think about what I truly wanted to spend my money on.

I also went to H&M and bought a navy tee-shirt.

Next on my list are some hair care products and maybe a pair of sexier summer sandals …

I am not an expert on corporate attire, but I thought that with either a great pair of slacks or skirt (depending on her style) in a neutral color, a blazer and a few beautiful blouses with classic pumps and accessories could work.  To get away from all dark colors and add a splash of spring, she could look at a really pretty blouse. This is new in Target stores and online this week from its guest appearnace of the Liberty of London line*.

This blouse might be a subtle way to add spring and color to a corporate wardrobe. It is feminine and springlike but not too flowery. It would look great with black or gray.

This scarf would definitely bring a breath of spring time to any corporate outfit:

*I made Easter items exempt from my Not-A-Cent-in-Lent pledge because my kids need Easter this year. So I didn’t feel like I was breaking my promise by buying them these dresses to wear on Easter:

But I know I definitely fell of the wagon buying these:

They do NEED swimsuits, but it could have waited until after Easter.

This was my one big purposeful slip. I say purposeful because I actually marked on my calendar the day the Liberty of London line was debuting in Target so I could buy their Easter dresses. My big slip up was buying the suits as well. I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

** PS Please help give Jeanne some advice on the bare basics corporate wardrobe she needs starting her new promotion so she isn’t spending a lot of money during Lent!!!! Also, she wants to add a touch of spring to her clothes instead of all black.

Warning: this post is preachy and self-righteous and could be offensive to some.

Wow. I almost fell off the wagon last night. I’ve been doing some “window shopping” and stumbled across the most beautiful blouse in the world on ebay a few days ago. I didn’t even think twice and spontaneously bid on the item to my regret!!!!! I kept crossing my fingers that someone would outbid me … no such luck.

I contacted the seller before the auction ended and he said if I won, he would just cancel the transaction. Wow.

How generous and nice. I apologized profusely and still feel like a jerk about it, but am so glad I didn’t buy it.

I’m really trying to stick to my challenge for religious reasons, but also for reasons of integrity.

I think I learned my lesson by having to feel like a heel in retracting my bid. I still am grateful to the guy for letting me bow out.

I think I dodged a bullet, but learned my lesson.

My bookclub had a discussion about not a cent in lent last night (the CREATOR, my friend Jen) is in bookclub.

We talked about how it may seem a little self righteous to say so, but it is frustrating when so many people say, “Oh, how can you do that … it would be so hard, and so on.”

All we are doing is giving up buying NON ESSENTIALS until Easter. I buy food. I went and bought my daughter some dry erase markers her teacher said she needed to replace at school. I am NOT depriving myself. I have everything I NEED. Everything.

When you look at the world and look at so many people who don’t have the luxury to decide whether or not they are going to spend their money on non-essentials, it brings it all home. I think that is also the point of doing this Lenten challenge:  Realizing that the essentials that we are “restricting” ourselves to during this short time period of Lent, are out of reach for some people.

Most of us are so insulated in our tidy, comfy little worlds that we don’t even remember how others are scraping by to provide food for their families.

We are doing OK financially now, but I try to never forget this because even though I have always been able to feed my family, always had clothes and always have had a roof over our heads, I have been in the position before where I am feeding my kids scrambled eggs for dinner a few nights a week because our food budget was the only place with any wiggle room — and EVEN STILL I was still INCREDIBLY wealthy compared to most people in the world.

All right, I’ll get off my soapbox now …

It is just something I feel passionate about and it’s OK if you don’t agree …

sweater (hand-me-down, husband's friend) - skirt (BR, thrifted) - boots (Liz Claiborne, consignment) - silver hoops

I was experimenting with my tripod today. It worked ok, but after a few tries, the flash wouldn’t work, but I managed to get one photo I like.  Tine talked about how my pose yesterday made me seem more confident, so I am practicing that one again!

Menu:
Breakfast: Two slices homemade bread toasted with butter; cafe au lait
Lunch: leftover salad with three strips of leftover chicken; one italian sausage sliced; one biscotti
Dinner: scrambled eggs, toast; wine

Reminder: Anyone else with style questions please email them to me at: mammaitaliana23@gmail.com  Please don’t be shy. I have already received some great questions and welcome some more before my post on Saturday. Thanks again. You will remain anonymous (in case anyone cares!)

Also, my Not a Cent in Lent program is going great, but today for some reason I just wanted to rush out and spend money on summer sandals! It must be the scorching 40 degree weather we are having. Spring fever has hit me!

navy tee (JCrew) - navy cardigan - black skirt (express, thrifted) - black boots - vintage necklace

Menu:
Breakfast: dish whole milk plain yogurt with homemade granola; cafe au lait
Lunch: My usual snacky lunch at MIL house after mass. Today I had tortilla chips with cucumber dip; salami slices with wheat thins; Cheez itz (or however you spell them!)
Dinner: pasta with red sauce; roasted asparagus; green salad; fresh bread with butter; wine

NOT A CENT IN LENT UPDATE

I have done well so far, but there were two items that I still question whether I broke my own rules.

The first is when I bought some art supplies: I bought new spray paint and glue sticks, spending less than $5. I have sold every one of my small art pieces on line and need to put some more out there, so I’m not sure if this counts as a necessity or not. To me, it was an investment and a way to make more money because they are selling like hotcakes, but maybe I’m just justifying it.

Then this weekend I took my two children to McDonalds. I didn’t eat anything because of my not a cent in lent, (and because I think it is crap food) but didn’t realize that even taking them to eat out would be breaking my own rules.

My children had done really great in school last week in a number of areas, so this was a treat for them. They have had McDonald’s no more than 6 times in their lives. I hate it, but I also don’t want them to freak out when they are older and want to eat there all the time because they were never exposed to it.

 The good  news (?) is that it gave my older child a stomach and I think we may never be tempted to go back. She said she only wanted the happy meal toy anyway, so I said next time we’ll just go to Target and she can pick out a toy and skip the food.