Ask Auntie Leila: Five steps to feeling pretty after the baby.

Dear Auntie Leila,

I am loving reading the posts on your blog. I am awed by all these lovely women who have lots of children. My question is whether you can share some wisdom about body image and marital intimacy.

I guess for me I feel like since having my (first) baby 2 and a bit years ago (it was a complicated birth and took a long time to heal from physically and I think perhaps longer mentally) I am constantly revisiting how I feel about my body.

I am gradually trying to let go of the weird perfectionism thing that makes me think I need to look like a supermodel, without the personal make up artist, thousands of dollars and the lack of eating!!

I wonder how you (or others) maintained (and maintain) your idea of being an attractive self whilst pregnant or breastfeeding, at different stages of life, and so on. How do you hold the two "selves" together? And how do your husbands? (I guess it's telling that I think of myself as two people - the mother and the pre-mother who had her own life and felt attractive?! Ideally I'm sure I should be one person!)

Thank you for all your down to earth wisdom!

Ellie

Dear Ellie,

Okay, it’s going to seem really random to you that I find this question very… Advent-y.

Stick with me because I’m going to be practical, but also show you how these issues we have can be resolved by our Advent devotions, and we will also get input from the Chief, Sukie, and Rosie.

Ask Auntie Leila: No, really, how do you prepare for Thanksgiving?

Dear Auntie Leila,
Any chance you could post about the things you do to get ready for Thanksgiving?
Love,
Susan

You mean the magazines aren't helping you with their advice to set the table the day before? You say you actually use that table at every meal for your impossibly large family? And even if, during those crazy prep days, you could simply hand them food out the dog hatch, telling them that it's normal to eat meals on the porch in November, your nimble toddlers would slip past you and make short work of the china and glassware? You don't think it would be wise to set the table more than a nanosecond before everyone sits down, even with your linebacker brothers to guard it while you keep the other toddlers from standing on the dishwasher door? Because you have an infinite supply of toddlers?

Yeah, I hear you. I don't have any brothers, so it was even worse for me.

Maybe some of these ideas can help.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Note that you actually have until Sunday to join in the fun! But next week, no {phfr}. Happy Thanksgiving!

 {pretty}

 

I got this mat from Target, and replaced the two inadequate ones that were all I could find at the time. {Mats at the door are a must. Pleasepleaseplease get some sturdy "waterhog" mats that are big. There on the right is a really big one that dogs and people have to walk several steps on while taking off their coats, before entering my kitchen. Then there's another mat inside the kitchen door. You will invest under $50. So much cheaper than therapy.}

Yarn woes.

A quick post here to join Ginny's Yarn Along. She's quite the knitter! Lovely.

Casti Connubii, the bag that holds my little projects in my purse, and my little project.

I could have saved this for tomorrow's {pretty, happy, funny, real} -- as my real -- but as it's knitting, and I haven't posted any knitting for a while, Yarn Along it is. (Don't forget to join Like Mother, Like Daughter tomorrow with your contentment!)

Before and After: Third floor bedrooms.

When everyone was home, we had all our bedrooms in full use, including what is now the rec room. Seven bedrooms! {We actually have eight, because there are three on the third floor, but one of was used as a kitchen for a little apartment organized by the previous owner -- for some Vietnamese boat people -- isn't that amazing? Not having the energy to convert it back, I use it as storage right now. By right now I mean I always have.}

Okay, get ready for an intense remodeling experience! This is going to rock your world! Close all your Martha Stewart tabs! You don't need them!

Before and After: Third floor stairs and hall.

In May we started a project on our third floor that was a long time in coming. You know that parable in the Bible about the man who builds a tower without really thinking through what it will cost? Yeah, well, that might be us and this house.

In our defense, we sort of needed a big house (although I think I am more of a cottage person), what with having my mother here, homeschooling, Phil working at home, and being sort of crazy. But also, it was the only house available at the time that we could afford and that wasn't either the size of a double-wide or a young hotel. I mean, we saw houses that you could rollerskate in, and by the way, didn't have a kitchen. And weren't cheap!

We just aren't the building type. In real life. We needed something with actual walls.

So here we are.

Stormcation.

You can still post on {phfr}!

Since before my stormcation I had pretty things to show you, I'm going ahead and posting those pictures. This is a catching up post and you'll just have to bear with some anachronisms here!

One day we were enjoying fall, and the next day, BAM! The Chief was worriting about who would help him get the plow rig on the Suburban, since we are woefully lacking in sons these days.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Wow, has it already been another week? That was fast. I'm sorry it's been so quiet around here; it's totally my fault. Well, mine and my parents' power and internet cables' fault.

They finally are up and running again (but dealing with the aftermath), after a week without electricity and several more days without phone and internet. Hopefully things will be back to normal there (and here!) soon.

{pretty}

Our rosebush is blooming again! Fresh flowers for Our Lady in November: one of the joys of living in Southern California.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!  

Well, that crazy October snowstorm on Saturday really did a number on my parents' area -- they're still without power over there! It sounds like it's been quite an adventure. I've been missing fall weather; Southern California has a lot going for it, weather-wise, but it's got nothing on a New England autumn. 

An October snowstorm, though, is just crazy.

{pretty}

We may not have fall colors, but we do have beautiful sunsets over the water.