It’s the day before Easter and the day before my 62nd birthday. I have had a busy day so far. And I’ve got a couple of hours to kill before getting ready to go out to dinner.
Some of my hair is up in rollers. Adam gave me a spectacular blow-out today and I want the bigness for this evening. I am going to wear my bio hair tonight!
I want my hair big and bouncy this evening and don’t want to mess up a wig as I sloppily gorge down my meal! The things we do for beauty!
Adam gave me an excellent wig-friendly blow out this morning!
The flowers the kids sent are now in full bloom and are on the table next to me. I am enjoying glancing over at them. And while the kids aren’t here this weekend, I have a reminder of them.
Arent they beautiful? They are in bloom now and I love looking at them!
This was a great surprise to come home to yesterday! The card–I’m misty-eyed!
It is the first time, since I became a mom, in 1983, that I am not dying eggs for Easter nor am I filling baskets up to the brim with candy.
There is a fork in my emotional road.
I could take the side that is sad because nobody is here for my Easter/birthday weekend or I could veer off to the happy side and realize they are not here because, as adults, they have their own lives.
I have decided to take the happy road!
That’s right man! I’m taking the happy road! No Easter baskets mean no chocolate that I can sneak into my big mouth. That means no added and empty calories!
Oona is off to her boyfriend’s family for Easter festivities. Jake is working on the news and, is most likely with the new girl he is seeing and Roman is working at Saturday Night Live tonight. The boys will be relaxing tomorrow.
The boys came to visit two weeks ago and Oona was here last week. I am a lucky woman because I’ve had three weekends of celebrations.
Still, it was a very pleasurable surprise to come home to a delivery of flowers from the kids.
I also came home to a most lovely surprise from my favorite aunt—my Aunt Terry. She sent a photo of me as a baby. In the photo, I am with my parents. I had never seen this photo before and it had been at another aunt’s home. It was passed on to Aunt Terry and she sent it to me. I cannot stop looking at it.
I’m grateful to my Aunt Terry for sending me this wonderful gift of a photo! I’m like a baby version of Mona Lisa–what the hell am I looking at? What kind of smile is that? This is also THE most amazing pic of me because I don’t look cross-eyed! I am very much digging my mother’s sweater! I’ll bet I’m eyeing food on a table!
The simple, thoughtful gifts are the most touching.
Anyway, I did manage to do some baking. On Monday, we welcome a new co-worker and it is a month of birthdays at the office so I made a cake!
I made the Momofuku “Milk Bar” Cookbook Birthday Cake. I love the method of baking the cake in a sheet pan and cutting the layers with a cake round…
The cake is assembled with an acetate sheet inserted into the cake round, it helps to keep the shape of the cake while setting in the freezer. I made cake truffles out of the remaining cake scraps and leftover frosting. I’ll dip them in white chocolate tomorrow!
If you want to read more about this cake, click on this link to my second-ever blog post when I went to the Milk Bar Cooking Class! My Second Blog Post: A Weekend in Brooklyn.
Yesterday we got out of work early and I ran some errands. Naturally, with a bit of “afternoon” time, I checked into the Marshalls in Norristown. I used to shop here quite often when I worked in the area and always found great deals. I tried a couple of fails on before trying on the hidden gem. A pair of skinny jeans for $19.99! I love them!
Dressing Room Fail Number 1: I wanted to love this off-the-shoulder top so much but it was a pain to keep the shoulders down and it was uncomfortable. Not good.
Dressing Room Fail Number Two: The fit was awful. The construction was shoddy. No on all levels!
Dressing Room Fail Number 3: I love a good pair of tattered jeans but these just did not work. I didn’t like the hem and the fit was not flattering. Note the stain on my blouse–I will get to that later in the post!
Dressing Room Win: At $19.99 these jeans by 1822 Denim was a treasure. The fit is wonderful. In fact, I’ve had them on all day with no stretching out. I may dress these up for dinner this evening!
I also realized that I have not been keeping you posted on my weight loss for the past three weeks. Well, since each weekend was a celebration of food and fun, I decided “screw it”—then my scale broke. Literally into two pieces.
The good news is, Bonaparte went out and purchased an old-school scale for me. I gained three pounds. And so, on Monday I’ll go back to my semi-Weight Watchers routine of eating healthier.
And speaking of clothing, here’s a bit of a look-see at what I wore this past week:
As I recall, last Monday’s weather was pretty bad–so I went ultra casual in old City Pants, Repetto’s a bright Lilly Pultizer for Target scarf, a knit shirt with POM-POM trim and a denim jacket! I also wore a new head of fake hair–Storm by Model Model!
Tuesday was a beautiful day. Warm and sunny–so I went with a Lilly Pultizer shift that was very tight on me last year! I even wore the Rondini sandals I picked up in France last summer and my little pineapple necklace!
Wednesday I was a bit ladylike with my linen blend skirt from last year’s purchase at J. Crew Factory. I didn’t realize it, but when I got home I noticed a tiny stain in the front of the skirt and I can’t figure out how I got it. I can’t stand that….
…and speaking of stains, Thursday was a beaut. I have NO IDEA how this dress ended up with THREE stains within moments of putting this dress on. Being the natural born slob that I am, I wore the dress anyway. Bonaparte noticed the stains and was mortified that I would wear the dress like that in the first place. It is now on his dresser waiting to be taken to the dry cleaners. My $15 dress is now becoming more expensive. My hair is my crowning glory–it’s the Perm Yaki 18″ by Outre! OMG. It literally IS the hair I had before I lost most of it!
OK. So here’s yesterday’s outfit. We now have a pattern here. It’s STAIN week! I kid you not, this is the shirt I purchased last Sunday. The first time I wore it. While putting it on, I hit the inside of the shirt with my mouth and the lipstick I applied. It stained. I’m amazed at how lipstick won’t stay on your lips but it’ll stain the hell out of a shirt. I tried taking the stain out with Shout AND Dawn. It is still there. The shirt is now on top of the stained dress that Bonaparte is taking to the dry cleaners…
Lesson learned. Apply lipstick/gloss/lip color AFTER getting dressed! Looking on the bright side, this Essence lip gloss DOES stay on the lips for a long, long time. At $2.50 it is a longer-lasting lip color than the pricey ones. It also leaves a mean stain!
That’s it for my Saturday. I have to get ready now for date night!! See you tomorrow–and if I don’t get around to posting tomorrow: Have a great and happy Easter!
Celebrating Easter or not celebrating–have a wonderful day!
Hey. I was listening to The Best of The Byrds earlier today while driving. The best and most iconic opening riff to any song, ever, was the opening to “Mr. Tambourine Man”. What do you think?
Ahh, Mr. Tamborine Man, written by Bob Dylan. My Dad was the biggest Dylan fan I’ve ever known. So much so, that my parents wrote to Dylan and asked him to be my Godfather. He declined because he was converting to Judaism. I read the lyrics to Mr. Tambourine Man at my Dad’s Memorial Service. The lyrics were fitting of my Dad and his passing.
Wishing you a very Happy Easter and Happy Birthday!!!! Xoxo
Lori. OMG. Your parents must have been the coolest of all time!! I think it’s great that they asked Dylan to be your Godfather. It’s also very touching that you read the lyrics of Mr. Tambourine Man at your dad’s memorial service. I hope listening to this song brought sweet memories for you! Happy Easter to you as well–and thank you for the birthday wishes!
Yep, they pretty much were. They were 20 when I was born in ’66, so they had all the coolness. I always said I would never be as cool as them!
Oh my! Where to start? Those giant rollers? Saturday Night Live??? That amazing cake? The STAINS? Haha, you crack me up, girl. Have a wonderful birthday!!
Hi Alice! Oh yeah. I love my rollers–the bigger the better! Ugh. I fell asleep before SNL started. I need to see if it is On Demand so I can watch it tonight!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Happy Birthday Catherine and Happy Easter! I hope the day is filled with joyful celebration!
Happy Easter and Happy Birthday! Best wishes for a wonderful day and enjoy that cake!
Joyeuse Pâques et Bon Anniversaire! Xoxo
Sending wishes for a very happy birthday!
Thank you Liz!!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Happy Birthday tomorrow!!
Happy Easter, too.
Happy, Happy Birthday❣️🎂🥂❣️ And Happy Easter, too!
Happy Birthday Catherine! xoxoxoxo
Happy Birthday and have a wonderful Easter!
Happy birthday, Catherine and also, Happy Easter! I don’t know what it is about me, as well, but I’m also a stain magnet. Half the time, I never know how the stain got there! If I simply stir a pot of spaghetti sauce, somehow, I’ll end up with little dots of tomato sauce all over my top.
Let me just say that you looked adorable in that off the shoulder top! What a shame it was so uncomfortable and didn’t stay off the shoulders. I find that to be a problem with so many of those tops. I refuse to wear clothes any longer that keep me constantly tugging, pulling, adjusting, etc. I also love the jeans you ended up with and agree that your mom’s sweater in that wonderful picture definitely is something I would want to wear today. I love when you share old pictures! Celebrate your day, gorgeous, in high style and allow Bonaparte to pamper you the way you deserve! Lots of love! XOXOXOXOXO
Have a very very Happy Birthday and a wonderful Easter!
I never dress before doing my hair and make up. To avoid foundation and lipstick stains on your shirt or blouse, put it on over your head backwards, then turn it the right way. If there is a makeup mishap, it most likely won’t be seen because it will be covered by your hair or a jacket. 🙂
Kristine. You are a genius with the backwards thing!!!! Honestly, the striped shirt is in a pile with other stained items waiting to go to the dry cleaner!! Thank you for an epic tip!!! XOXOXOXO!!!
Happy Birthday, Cathy…I hope your day was just grand. I so admire you and your classic, youthful style. Bonaparte is a very lucky man to be part of your (and your children’s) life.
I think if you are looking for a long lasting lipstick that won’t come off on your clothes you should try Revlon Colorstay Overtime lipstick…Constantly Coral is a nice bright shade I think you’d like…I’ve been wearing it for about 6 years now and haven’t been disappointed. You and I have similar coloring (except for our hair) and it seems to go well with”Irishness”…
Happy, happy birthday. Have a wonderful day.
Susan D
Catherine, Happy birthday and happy Easter! Hope you have a marvelous day today! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
Happy, happy birthday! Have a great day!
Happy birthday.
It’s 7.45 p.m. here and I hope I’m not too late to wish you a very, very happy birthday. Hope it’s being a wonderful day!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!I think I am in the NICK OF TIME…………….hope you and BONAPART celebrated in GRAND STYLE!
XX
Just LOOK at that! 62 and STILL fabulous! 😀 Happy Birthday, dearie! <3
Happy birthday – belated I fear! Loved reading your post. The photo of you with rollers in reminded me of Julia Roberts! And how lovely to get a previously unseen picture of you as a baby. You look so cute.
Gail
You wear 62 well…shoot you wear it fabulously! Happy Birthday!
Great story!! Loved it!!😁
Happy happy birthday to you. Easter birthdays are special. My son was born on Easter Sunday and he will not have his birthday on Easter Sunday again until he turns 63. I looked up the Ecumenical calendar in case you thought I worked that out mathematically. Love the Byrds but my favourite riff is Smoke on the Water – not because of the song so much, but rather as it was played at every party I went to in the 70’s and my husband managed to get “superstar” rating on Playstation Singstar which we always played with the cousins at Easter at my parents farm. Oh Easter memories!!!
You are looking fantastic and those flowers (ranunculus?) are stunning – your kids have great taste, and happy birthday
I wished I looked half as good as you in shorts. And so lucky to have a live in style coach in Bonaparte. My husband notices nothing. Congratulations on your fabulous weight loss and all the accompanying evidence. Oh just realised I’ve already posted about Mr Tamborine Man.
Catherine, happy belated birthday! You look fabulous, and that cake is lovely. Hsppy Easter time!