Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Wayback Playback

Wayback Playback: 2010 Edition

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This morning, searching through my blog for a recipe (Mangia Meatballs!) and trolling in the archives for a makeup review, I randomly stumbled on a post that I published on October 26, 2010 entitled, “Life is Good.” The post was short and sweet:
img_3513“It’s 8:23 PM. I’m getting the boys ready for bed… Life is Good.

Disclaimer: They don’t actually sleep together. Ryder would eat Reid. But they do enjoy snuggling in Ryder’s truck-inspired bed, and Ryder enjoys wearing his truck-themed pajamas. I love my boys, I am thankful for my many blessings, and Life is Good.”

Ugh! This simple post and picture made me weepy to the extreme! First, because they DO sleep together now, and have shared the same double bed for over two years. Second, because just this past weekend, my husband and I were shopping for two twin beds. At almost 6 and 8 years old, it’s time to give them their own spaces (although they still want to share a room, which we’re fine with). …

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Waiting For Tonight

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Last night I came across a piece of history – a relic, if you will – a jar of glitter gel from the ol’ clubbing days. It was the cheap kind that I’m fairly certain I scooped up from the “4 for $5.00” tray at Claire’s. My BFF and I would liberally spread the grape-scented glitter on our cheeks, clavicles and arms in an attempt to sparkle under the club’s strobe lights.

(It wasn’t hard. Trust me, we showed A LOT of skin.)

The once shimmery gel has since hardened into a gluey, funky-smelling substance – although the jar doesn’t explicitly list an expiry date, I’m thinking they didn’t have 14 years crammed into an old makeup bag in mind. But it’s not so much the ancient artifact that has me nostalgic; rather, it’s the memories of what Fridays used to be like.

Hushed conversations on the phone at work.
Deciding what to wear; discussing in detail the case for black pants vs. little black dress.
Wondering if I had enough time to re-paint my toe nails.
Popping in a house music CD to get the blood pumping and my head bobbing.
Looping giant velcro rollers into my hair.
Doing sit-ups on the bedroom floor at 8:00pm.
Calling for last minute wardrobe checks.*

*This one makes me long for the days of yore more than anything else; it was the knowledge that I knew every single article of clothing in a friend’s wardrobe. If she said, “I’m wearing my orange tank top which make my boobs look great”, I instantly knew the tank top she was referring to. Because we hung out in casual clothes, went clubbing in dressy clothes and spent copious amounts of time shopping together; hence, all new purchases were mentally categorized as well. Today, not knowing what a friend will wear means that we don’t spend nearly enough time together. Le sigh.

Speaking of today, this is what my Friday looks like.

Checking online grocery flyers, looking for cheese on sale.
Sorting laundry into darks, lights and towels.
Wondering where to take the kids this weekend – animal farm or indoor playground?
Pulling on yet another pair of yoga pants. I don’t do yoga.
Making a mental note to gather all my tax info.
Nagging my husband to clean out the garage tomorrow.
Chatting with my BFF and asking what she’s up to for the weekend, but not really hearing her.

Sheesh. Perhaps I’ll run out and grab a new jar of glitter. What’s sexier than a sparkly mama pulling tots in a wagon?

My favourite throwback to the good ol’ days: Waiting for Tonight by Jennifer Lopez. Should I be pissed that she’s still living the same life as 1999? Um… probably not.