Photo courtesy: http://www.sxc.hu

Number 10 on “Real Simple’s,” “10 Wardrobe Items That Always Work,” article is “put together a weekend uniform.” Intrigued, I read on …

women often make the mistake of letting themselves go on the weekend and schlepping around in old jeans and grubby T-shirts.”

It’s because we’re tired. We’re tired and just want to be comfortable. This reminds me of the whole Obama mom jean debacle. But it did get me thinking about what I wear on the weekends and after work.

Typically, I throw on a T-shirt and comfy shorts. I have house shorts and going-out shorts. The house shorts have elastic. My going-out shorts have a button. And, flip-flops are my staple. Usually my hair is in a pony tail too. My weekend motto is quick, comfortable and accessible.

Should I try to look better on the weekends?

The article continues to say:

Try cropped Capri pants and a fitted T-shirt in the summer; a pair of cords and button-down shirt in winter.”

I know that by dressing better all the time I would feel better. And, I’d probably want to get more done. When I wear tennis shoes in the house I always do more than when I have on slippers.

Maybe I’ll take the advice from this article and try to have an updated outfit that’s both fashionable and comfortable … as long as it has elastic.

Reading through the recent edition of “Parenting” magazine I loved a quote it featured in its Q&A section. It asked kids, “What do kids do better than adults?”

“Have fun! All grown-up do is sit around while kids play in the park.”

– Vivian, 5, New York City

It’s easy to say we sit around because we’re so damned tired from working, taking care of the kids, cleaning, shopping, helping with homework, and getting little or no sleep, but little Vivian has something here. Adults, especially parents, need to play more. Think about that next time you are about to sit on the bench thumbing through your iPhone while your kid is on the jungle gym.

A representative for Parents.com emailed me about a Toy and Recall finder that I think is pretty interesting for parents to learn about. The Web site put together a database and slide show detailing all the recent toy recalls — with pictures.

Searchable Database

The site uses an easy searchable database which allows you to search by a variety of ways:

• Enter Product Name, Brand or Model Number
• Choose a category (such as clothing, cribs and strollers)
• Choose a date range (last month, last 6 months, last year or all of the above)

I decided to try out the databaseI’m looking for new booster seats for my son so I did a search on car seat recalls within the last year. The search results display a list of 9 car seats which have been recalled. Pretty cool for just a couple clicks. It’s a great resource for busy parents like me. Be sure to visit the site to find out about products you’re interested in.

• Toy and Product Recall Finder
• Get the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) recall alerts

Photo courtesy Parents.com

As a busy mom I’ve neglected my home lately. I want to redecorate and make our space unique and inviting. Designers are typically expensive and I don’t have time to watch HGTV anymore, so when I heard about a design event at the upcoming Orlando Home Show, I was intrigued. Called “Speed Design,” it will help busy people like me get expert advice in minutes.

The premise is like speed dating. Just bring photos of design dilemmas from your home and rotate between five different local interior designers. You’ll have five, five-minute sessions where you are one-on-one with each designer. You’ll be sure to walk away with a variety of solutions from each designer. Once you enter the Home Show, there is no cost for the event.

If you go: Speed Design takes place at The Orlando Home Show, on SATURDAY ONLY (September 20, 2008) at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Arrive early — registration for this event is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Orlando Home Show runs, September 19-21 at the Orange County Convention Center. See its Web site for details, ticket pricing, parking information and a list of exhibits.

Win Free Tickets!
Two readers will win a pair of tickets to The Orlando Home Show. Just submit a comment to this blog post.

The two lucky winners will be randomly selected.

Deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008.

Only one entry per person please.

Winners will be announced on Friday.

 

Photos courtesy Marketplace Events.

Related:

• The Orlando Home Show
• Florida Home Shows
• Home Shows

Post a comment in the section below (even if it’s just your name or to say hi) to enter to win the Orlando Home Show tickets.

I received a press release about a new site, coolmom.com and went to see what it was about. The first video I viewed hit home immediately: “I Hate This Book.” Daphne Brogdon is the star of the show and posts clever videos about being a mom. In the “I hate this book” segment she talks about reading the same, boring books over and over and over again. She reads 5 books to her daughter every nap and nighttime. Wow, five , I try to get away with three. Admittedly, failing miserably some nights.

Anyway, tonight I tried a different tactic. Daphne talks about how she hates the Little People Farm book. My son is a Little People fan and loves the “Cars, Trucks, Planes and Trains“version. He’s stuck on this book right now. Wants us to read it to him over, and over and over. Frankly, I’m over it. I’m over reading how Eddie and his frog Freddy are going on a plane and how Sonya Lee is boarding a train and rowing a boat. Enough.

Back to tonight. It’s our quiet time before bed. PJs are on. My son is drinking milk. The lights are dimmed low and we’re sitting in the living room. I pick up the latest edition of a magazine I’ve neglected since it’s arrival in my mail box last week and begin to flip through it while relaxing on the comfort of on the couch. My son, of course, picks out the Little People vehicle book and wants me to read it to him.

I say, “OK, but next we are going to read ‘Entrepreneur’ Magazine.”

“OK,” he replies.

So, we read the Little People book, then proceed with “Entrepreneur.” I’m not sure how it will go, but it ended up pretty good. It’s all in your annunciation.

“If you’ve got a COMPUTER, you don’t even have to get out of BED to secure a loan for your startup!”

“In (deep voice) TOUGH TIMES, (shift to monotone voice) it’s more important than ever to squeeze all the profit you can from your business.”

So, we read the headlines like that through each page. It entertains him and gives me the fix I need.

Watch the coolmom video to see what books Daphne recommends, so you’re not stuck reading “Cosmo” to your kids.