The setting: A chic, high-end designer boutique.
The atmosphere: Sleek, trendy and cool. Glossy black walls frame the colorful collection of clothing, heels, handbags and other accessories.
My Life: Unhappily married, no children, and a part-time job.
I stand and stare, never daring to enter. I admire the perfectly dressed, ebony mannequins. Footage of runway shows airs on the large screen t.v. just inside the window. I am completely mesmerized.
How am I perceived?
Shy, insecure, frightened, lonely.
My perception of this store is that it is off-limits and unattainable.
The Following Year
Same setting / Same Atmosphere
My Life: New Husband, New Baby, New Responsibilities (running a business with my husband).
I have gained enough confidence to actually step foot inside this wondrous boutique! My heart races as I touch the clothing. What are these sizes? 42? 40? I don’t understand. No one approaches me. I’m here, yet invisible. The staff are indifferent as I depart.
How am I perceived?
Curious, bold, naive.
This visit changes my perception. I CAN enter, and I CAN touch.
2 Years Later
Same setting / Same Atmosphere
My Life: Happily Married, 2nd Baby Arrives, Business is Booming.
I am now FULL of confidence. I’ve strolled in and out of designer boutiques throughout the city. During this particular visit, the added bonus is that my best friend is visiting. Arm in arm, we admire the latest collection. We stop in front of a particularly beautiful piece, the little black dress lined in silk animal print. Something happened this day that had never happened before. We were approached! Yes, Ricardo made his way over to see if we needed assistance. My size: 46 or 48, in stock just off the main floor. Knock me over with a feather! I AM TRYING ON THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS! The staff is no longer too busy or uninterested as they bring me shoes, purses and little jackets attempting to complete the look.
How am I perceived?
Emboldened, confident.
My perception of this store has now changed 180 degrees.
What changed? My perception of self.
1) Do you ever have really good dreams, and then the whole next day, you’re in a really good mood because of that really good dream?
Sure, ya, who doesn’t? Recently I had the oddest dream. Sarah Palin was in an Aerosmith video!
I wish I was making this up!
2) What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever seen?
I believe I covered this the other day in the Ex-Tag.
3) What’s the last thing you bought at the mall?
I bought Pearl some pink hair color and 2 useless balls.
4) Got any plans for today?
I plan to finish this glass of wine.
I started this blog last night.
5) What’s the last thing you ate/drank?
Hello? Does wine ring a bell? Ding, ding, ding!
6) What are you listening to?
My kids watching a Spongebob Squarepants cartoon.
Am I going to get in trouble for using his image?
Why is he gyrating?
7) Do you constantly read any certain magazines? Which ones?
I subscribe to 2 magazines.
I N T E R M I S S I O N
This intermission is brought to you by InStyle’s Hollywood Hair Virtual Make-Over
Hmmm…. blonde or brunette?
Go have some fun!
I N T E R M I S S I O N . . . O V E R
8) What’s the last thing you watched on tv?
Does Spongebob ring a bell? Ding, Ding, Ding!
9) Describe what’s on the wall nearest to you.
This awesome 5 canvas painting which was one of the first things I bought when I moved to Arizona.
10) Is your favorite author the author of your favorite book?
Sure, ya.
11) What are you looking forward to the most?
Lunch with 3 lovely MySpace ladies!
12) What colors do you see outside?
Remember? I started this last night. This is a long-ass survey! Whew!
13) Describe what you wore yesterday.
A FreePeople sundress.
Check ’em out!
14) Think of the last band you saw live, rate how they performed from 1-10.
I saw a high school marching band on Saturday.
I’ll give them a 5.
15) What’s the last thing someone bought for you?
Tom bought me a juicy brat at the fair.
I’d rate it an 8.
16) What’s the last cd you bought?
I’d rather tell you the latest Wii game I bought! Wii Fit!
Why is Tom asleep?
17) Is that your favorite cd by that artist?
Ooops! See, now I’ve ruined this question! How ’bout if my favorite artist plays Wii Fit with me?
Hula hooping with Eminem.
18) What food do you eat the most of?
Lately I’ve been on a soup kick!
19) What food do you not eat enough of?
It’s not really a food, but I don’t drink enough milk.
20) Describe someone you find really attractive.
My husband!
21) If you HAD to look like someone else, but could choose who, who would you choose?
Eva Mendes.
22) What’s the last thing that made you upset?
Spilt milk… literally.
23) What’s something you’re proud of yourself for?
Nearly getting through this survey!
I’m proud of you too if you’ve made it this far.
24) What’s your favorite color crayon?
The red glitter crayon.
25) How do you wear your hair on a normal day?
Just like you see it.
26) Think of your favorite band… if you got to talk to ONE person from that band, who would it be, and why them?
Again with the band question? I don’t think Eminem has a band.
27) Do you wear any rings on a regular basis? What are they like? Do they mean anything special?
They mean I’m married.
With children.
28) If you had to get a piercing right now, what would it be?
I’ll tell ya what you can pierce. My Salad Creations punch card!
29) Have you ever seen someone get a tattoo done? If so, what was it? Did they cry or were they in a lot of pain?
Yes, I’ve been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.
Am I finished? What day is it?
You will have admiration and mega kudos if you self-tag. This survey is a BEAST!
Natalie’s school offers free pilates classes on Monday evenings. We ventured over there last night to partake.
The intimate class was comprised of the instructor, her 3 year old daughter (Ali), a 5 year old student (Reagan), me and my girls.
What the Instructor Said:
Class, lay down on your mats and we shall begin warming up.
What the Children Heard:
Natalie, lay down on your side and look bored. Please strike this pose for 30 minutes.
Pearl, good effort!
Ali, now is the time to bend your mat up to your nose and give it a good sniff. Don’t stop yet! Sniff your mat for 20 minutes.
Reagan, do not listen to anything I say, and make as much noise as humanly possible.
What the Instructor Said:
Pose like dogs, and try to find your tail.
What the Children Heard:
You are ferocious dogs who must attack! Pearl-dog, head-butt your sister. It is the only way we can all get out of class early!
What the Instructor Said:
Now make your back straight, like a table.
What the Children Heard:
Reagan, get a cup and put it on my back. I’ll demonstrate what a table really looks like.
What the Instructor Said:
Fold up like a bug, and roll onto your back. Now roll back up to the starting position.
What I Heard:
Jean, I’m going to kill you. Fold up like a bug, roll onto your back, and lay there helpless.
What the Instructor Said:
Let’s stand up and do some dance moves.
What the Children Heard:
Reagan, this is going to be complicated. First, I need you to stand next to me and remind me to breath. Then, wander around the room on tippy-toes because I did mention something about dance moves. Now, do you see those folded mats over there? Try to balance on them. I know, it looks risky, huh? Well, you’ll do it anyway.
Natalie, continue to cry. Really, class will end right after this dance move.
Ali, stand on my feet. The closer to me, the better for me to demonstrate this move.
Pearl, sit next to your sister and make a pouty face.
What the Instructor Said:
Class dismissed.
What I Heard:
What a fiasco, huh? So…. will I see you next week?
Thanks for reading!
